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NEW YORK -- The heart of the order was in the middle of everything for Texas on Wednesday night. Nelson Cruz homered and the Rangers got consecutive two-run doubles from Adrian Beltre and A.J. Pierzynski in an 8-5 victory over Andy Pettitte and the New York Yankees. The 3-4-5-6 hitters in Texas lineup combined to go 7 for 20 with three doubles and seven RBIs. "What was nice was to see the middle of my order come up big," manager Ron Washington said. "We need that. Without those guys doing what they did and what they are capable of doing, it would be a long year. They pulled it out for us tonight." Rangers rookie Justin Grimm pitched just well enough to beat Pettitte, and the AL West leaders won for the seventh time in nine games following a six-game slide -- their longest of the season. Texas improved to 6-12 against the Yankees since the start of 2011, both perennial playoff teams this decade. Lyle Overbay and Ichiro Suzuki homered for New York on a hectic day at Yankee Stadium, where baseballs most famous franchise announced that first baseman Mark Teixeira needs season-ending surgery on his right wrist. Manager Joe Girardi and GM Brian Cashman also discussed the latest Alex Rodriguez drama, and the team said all parties involved are on the same page about posting injury updates on Twitter after A-Rod called Cashman for a clarification chat. Grimm (7-5) allowed three runs in five-plus innings for his second straight win over a 2012 division champion. "I guess a wins a win," he said. "Id just love to be able to go deeper in the game, especially when Im cruising like that, going at guys." Pettitte (5-6) settled in after a rocky third but dropped his third start in a row since earning his 250th win. He has struggled since coming off the disabled list June 3 and is 2-6 in his last 10 starts since winning his first three of the season. "My body is feeling good, my velocity is good, my command is good," Pettitte said. "It will turn. Ive been through this before and its worked out all right. I just want my body to keep feeling good." Cruz, with little success against the Yankees in recent years, hit a two-run shot off struggling reliever Joba Chamberlain in the seventh to extend Texas lead to 6-3 and tie a club record with his fifth consecutive 20-homer season. Suzukis two-run drive in the bottom half was a no-doubter into the second deck in right, the first homer all season off left-handed reliever Robbie Ross. Not known for his power, Suzuki also hit a game-ending homer in the series opener Tuesday. Tanner Scheppers worked a perfect eighth, one night after serving up Suzukis clutch home run. Joe Nathan got three quick outs for his 26th save in 27 tries. "Last night was a little tough to swallow," Beltre said. "But today we came back with a better attitude." After an error by centre fielder Brett Gardner, Texas scored two unearned runs in the ninth off Shawn Kelley on Lance Berkmans RBI single and Mitch Morelands sacrifice fly. Beltre finished with three hits. Overbay, the replacement for Teixeira, hit his ninth homer to the back of the Yankees bullpen in right-centre to give Pettitte a 1-0 lead in the second. But the left-hander, making his second start since turning 41, gave it right back. A bunt single by Leonys Martin and a throwing error by third baseman Jayson Nix on Elvis Andrus sacrifice helped Texas load the bases in the third. Beltre doubled off the left-field wall on an 0-2 delivery and Pierzynski hit the next pitch to right-centre, making it 4-1. "Obviously, when Nellie and Adrian are swinging the bat well it makes my job hitting behind them a lot easier," Pierzynski said. "But I think this team has prided itself on one through nine giving you tough at-bats and I think that weve kind of started to get healthy and guys have started to do that." After a visit from pitching coach Larry Rothschild, Pettitte retired his next 10 batters and did not permit another run. He yielded three earned runs and six hits in six innings, striking out six. Robinson Cano and Travis Hafner hit consecutive RBI singles off Ross in the sixth, cutting it to 4-3. The Yankees then loaded the bases but Nix grounded into an inning-ending double play. "We closed their lead a couple of times. Theyve been really good. Tonight we gave them extra opportunities and they really cost us," Girardi said. NOTES: Coming into the game, Ross had held opposing hitters to 3 for 41 (.073) with runners in scoring position -- the best mark in the majors with a minimum of 20 at-bats. ... Rangers RHP Joakim Soria, rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, pitched a perfect inning in the rookie level Arizona League. His next scheduled outing is Friday for Triple-A Round Rock. ... Yankees INF Eduardo Nunez (strained left oblique) was set to begin a rehab assignment with Class A Tampa. ... The Yankees fell to 24-1 when scoring at least five runs. ... Rangers LHP Derek Holland (5-4, 3.43 ERA) faces RHP Phil Hughes (3-6, 5.09) in the series finale Thursday afternoon. Jonathan Toews Jersey . Diego Costa headed in Gabis corner seven minutes from time to secure victory ahead of the return match in Madrid on March 11. "We know that at Madrid it will be another game, which will also be important and very difficult," Milan coach Clarence Seedorf said. Gustav Forsling Jersey . It took five games, but the Celtics finally helped Stevens earn his first NBA victory. "Im going to celebrate for a whole 12 minutes, and then Im going to start watching Orlando and trying to figure them out," the first-year Celtics coach said after Boston beat the Utah Jazz, one of the leagues other winless teams, 97-87 on Wednesday night. http://www.authenticblackhawkspro.com/. Griffin scored 13 of his 31 points in the final 7:05 and Dudley got 11 of his 20 points in the third quarter, leading the defending Pacific Division champions to a 112-85 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night. "Dud is a shooter. Tony Esposito Jersey .com) - Demario Richard posted four touchdowns and Kweishi Brown came up with a key late interception as No. Brandon Saad Jersey .com) - James Harden needed just seven made field goals to drop 35 points on the Philadelphia 76ers, leading the Houston Rockets to a 104-93 win on Monday.PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Brett Lawrie hit his first homer of the spring and the Toronto Blue Jays held AL East rival Tampa Bay Rays to just three hits in a 5-0 victory Friday. Erik Bedard, in his final bid to earn the Rays fifth rotation spot, struggled through 5 2-3 innings. He gave up four runs over 94 pitches, walking one and striking out four. Bedard is in a three-way competition with LHP Cesar Ramos and RHP Jake Odorizzi. Manager Joe Maddon said the decision on the fifth starter will come Saturday morning. "The other guys Im competing with are really good, (so) Im sure its a hard decision to make," Bedard said. "Theyre probably going to crunch some numbers and go with their gut feeling, and well see. When you dont have a guaranteed deal, you have to compete." Bedard signed a minor league deal with the Rays in February. As recently as March 18, he said he would opt out of his contract if he doesnt make the starting rotation, but he appeared to relax his position Friday. "Competition is always fun, but I guess everyone is ready to know," Bedard said. "I feel good, and maybe the numbers dont show, but they show for Ramos, who had a very good spring. Well have to see because I dont make the decision." Bedard has a 6.88 ERA over 17 innings with 13 strikeouts and two walks, while Odorizzi has a 3.75 ERA over 12 innings with eight strikeouts and six walks. Ramos has the best numbers of the competition: a 2.63 ERA over 13 1-2 innings with 11 strikeouts and a walk. "Its not easy," Maddon said. "Theyve all represented themselves extremely really well. We just got to try and figure out how this thing fits and whos going to give us the best chance to win coming out of the gate." STARTING TIME Rays: Opening-day starter David Price threw 106 pitches in a simulated game vs. minor league hitters Friday morning. Price pitched into the eighth inning and said he didnt reach a three-ball count until the last hitter in the seventh. "Curveball was extremely sharp -- it was a good day," Price said. "It was essentially a game, minus an anthem, walkout songs and umpires. Guys were out there trying to get on base and steal.ddddddddddddIt was good." Jays: Aaron Sanchez, the teams 21-year-old top pitching prospect who hasnt been above Class A, looked sharp in his first start of the spring Friday, throwing 5 1-3 scoreless innings, while giving up just three hits, walking three and striking out two over 69 pitches. Sanchez has a perfect 0.00 ERA over 12 1-3 innings of this spring, but will probably be sent to Double-A New Hampshire. "I wont be disappointed if thats what happens," Sanchez said. "Ill go there and keep working to get better." NAVARRO BACK IN AL EAST When the Blue Jays signed journeyman catcher Dioner Navarro to a two-year, $8 million deal in December, they put faith in the former Tampa Bay Rays All-Star would be able to catch more than a 100 games, something he hasnt done since 2009. "Im 100 per cent sure I can play all season," he said. "Physically, mentally and spiritually feel ready and they obviously have faith that I can, too." Navarro will be seeing familiar faces back in the AL East, and for Maddon, thats a good and bad thing. "He helped us become the Rays," Maddon said. "As a young player, he was very calm through some stressful situations and threw out some good baserunners in some big moments. I like him. Ive always like him and really happy its worked out well for him, though not liking that hes in our division now against us." Last season, Navarro started 89 games for the Chicago Cubs, hitting 13 homers with a .300 average. He knows coming back to the AL East will be a challenge. "Everyone always talks about the (AL) East -- always have, so its no different (to be back)," Navarro said. "You have to have your A game every day." TRAINERS ROOM Rays: Juan Carlos Oviedo said he wont be ready by opening day because of his visa issues getting into the country. Oviedo said hes feeling good and expects to pitch Sunday vs. Boston in Fort Myers. . Matt Joyce received more treatment for his stiff neck, and Maddon said he was uncertain about when he will return to the lineup. . Jose Molina has not played in the previous two games, but Maddon says its not injury related. ' ' '