Swisher Leads Yankees past Rangers

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Rangers	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	8	0
Yankees	0	0	5	0	0	1	2	0	x	8	10	0

R

H

E

Rangers

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

8

0

Yankees

0

0

5

0

0

1

2

0

x

8

10

0

R

H

E

Rangers

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

8

0

Yankees

0

0

5

0

0

1

2

0

x

8

10

0

David Phelps pitches against the Rangers on Monday. (Getty Images)

Nick Swisher owned the night tonight as the Yankees defeated the Rangers 8-2. Swisher hit his 200th career home run, which was a grand slam in the third inning, and would later add with an RBI single in the seventh inning. He would finish the night with five runs batted in.

David Phelps started for the Yankees and he picked up the win. Phelps allowed 2 runs on 6 hits in 5 innings of work. He struck out 3 batters and walked only 1. Joe Girardi said prior to the game that Phelps would pitch a maximum of 75-to-80 pitches. Phelps exited with 78 pitches thrown, in which 51 of them were for strikes.

Derek Lowe made him Yankee debut tonight and he was stellar out of the bullpen. Lowe threw four shutout innings, in which he only allowed 2 hits. He also struck out 3 batters and did not issue a walk. 

The Yankee offense did their damage in the third inning when they put up a five spot against Ryan Dempster. Nick Swisher highlighted the inning, as stated above, with his grand slam. Swisher finished the night

The Yankees would go on to tack one more in the sixth inning and two more in the seventh inning.

The Yankees and Rangers will play Game 2 of 4 tomorrow night.