New York @ Texas preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 23, 2013 ) NY Yankees 5, Texas 4

The Texas Rangers have shown they are not afraid to be bold at the trade deadline, acquiring left-hander Cliff Lee in 2010 - a move that helped the team reach the World Series. The Rangers are hoping for similar results after pulling off a trade Monday to land Matt Garza from the Chicago Cubs. Garza won his last five starts with the Cubs and will look to continue his run when he faces the visiting New York Yankees on Wednesday in the third contest of a four-game series.

New York was in danger of slipping into oblivion in the fiercely competitive American League East, but a dramatic ninth-inning rally on Tuesday night enabled the Yankees to win for only the second time in seven games. New York, which trails first-place Boston by seven games in the AL East, failed to homer for the fifth straight game but did collect a triple and three doubles Tuesday after being held without an extra-base hit for the previous two games.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, YES (New York), FSN Southwest (Texas)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees LH Andy Pettitte (7-7, 4.47 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Matt Garza (6-1, 3.17)

Pettitte has settled into a disturbingly familiar pattern, allowing at least four runs in seven consecutive outings, including an 8-5 home defeat to the Rangers on June 26. He had a two-start win streak halted last time out when he gave up four runs and a pair of homers in a 4-2 loss at Boston. The 41-year-old southpaw is 2-4 with a bloated 8.22 ERA in seven starts at Rangers Ballpark.

Garza was only 15-17 over his first two seasons with the Cubs but the free agent-to-be picked the right time to elevate his game and become the most desirable pitcher on the market. He has permitted only six earned runs in his last six starts while pitching at least 6 2/3 innings in each of them. He has struggled against the Yankees, logging a 1-4 mark and 4.48 ERA while coughing up 11 homers in 12 appearances (11 starts).

WALK-OFFS

1. Texas was 51-0 when leading after eight innings until Tuesday's loss.

2. Yankees 2B Robinson Cano has been a thorn in Garza's side, going 10-for-29 with a pair of homers against him.

3. Rangers C A.J. Pierzynski is 9-for-25 lifetime versus Pettitte.

PREDICTION: Rangers 4, Yankees 2