Bronx, NY (Sports Network) – Mark Teixeira hit his 30th home run of the season — a three-run shot — as the Yankees lit up Oakland pitching for three home runs for a second straight game in a 9-3 victory that netted New York sole possession of first place in the AL East.
Nick Swisher hit a two-run homer and Curtis Granderson a solo shot for New York, which won for the fourth straight game and took over top billing in the division by a game with Tampa Bay’s loss to Toronto on Tuesday.
Phil Hughes (16-6) needed to go only five innings for the win but matched a season-high with five walks on the way to being charged with two runs and four hits.
Oakland’s Vin Mazzaro (6-7) was tagged for all nine runs, seven of those earned, in just 3 2/3 innings to remain winless in seven consecutive starts.
The outing followed an 11-5 loss in the opener to this four-game set in which Trevor Cahill gave up a season-high eight runs over four innings. The Athletics dropped to 4-4 on a 10-game road trip.