A tall task for the Yankees has become even taller, as the Rangers were able to pad their lead with an extra run in the bottom of the seventh.
Michael Young led off against Kerry Wood with a double down the third base line, and that was followed by just another intentional walk of Josh Hamilton. With two on and none out, Vladimir Guerrero turned away from an inside pitch and accidentally tapped the ball in front of the plate, but he did his job, as the runners were able to advance.
That brought up Nelson Cruz, and the Yankees opted to walk him intentionally as well to load the bases for Ian Kinsler. The hope for New York was that Wood would be able to induce an inning-ending double play.
No such luck. Kinsler lifted a fly into left that Brett Gardner caught entirely too deep for a play at the plate. The sac fly drove in the Rangers' sixth run of the game, and it's 6-1 as we head to the eighth. Colby Lewis remains on the mound, with a pitch count of 86. He's allowed just three hits.