Texas in command with win in Game 4

Associated Press

NEW YORK

No disputing this: The Texas Rangers are routing the New York Yankees and now just one win from their first trip to the World Series.

Bengie Molina hit a go-ahead, three-run homer off A.J. Burnett in the sixth inning, Josh Hamilton added a pair of solo drives to give him four in four games and the Rangers battered the Yankees 10-3 Tuesday night for a 3-1 lead in the AL championship series.

On a night of contested homers, Texas left no doubt with its long shots. Fans started streaming out of Yankee Stadium as the Rangers pulled away in the late innings.

It was a costly loss, too, for the defending World Series champion Yankees. All-Star first baseman Mark Teixeira limped off in the fifth inning with a strained right hamstring. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said the team would likely will replace Teixeira on the roster with infielder Eduardo Nunez.

Game 5 will have a rematch of starters from the opener, with the Yankees’ CC Sabathia against C.J. Wilson. Since the LCS went to a best-of-seven format, 24 of the 30 previous teams to take 3-1 series leads have won pennants.

While the Yankees are seeking a record 41st pennant, Texas is trying to reach its first World Series since the franchise started play as the expansion Washington Senators in 1961.

Instead of trying to avoid Cliff Lee, the Yankees can only hope to force a Game 7 and face him again.

Aiming for a Series matchup against San Francisco or Philadelphia, Texas has outscored the Yankees 30-11, outhit them 43-26 and would have swept if not for wasting a five-run lead in the opener. Nelson Cruz hit the last of Texas’ four homers, a two-run drive that gave the Rangers seven homers in the series and 15 in the postseason.

In contrast, Alex Rodriguez has been a bust against his former team, going 2 for 15 (.133) with two RBIs.

Molina’s two-out homer came after an intentional walk and put Texas ahead 5-3. Before he circled the bases and pounded a fist against his chest — and left Burnett clasping hands behind his head — not much was clear.

Robinson Cano hit a second-inning home run off the top of the right-field wall that left Cruz screaming and pointing after a fan appeared to block him from making a possible catch.

Two batters later, Lance Berkman hit a high drive down the right-field line that was clearly foul but initially was ruled fair by umpire Jim Reynolds. After a video review umpires reversed the call and ruled it foul.