By Jim Scott
DNAinfo Senior Editor
MANHATTAN — The Yankees World Series chances took a gigantic turn in the wrong direction on Tuesday.
A.J. Burnett served up a three-run homer to Texas catcher Benji Molina in the sixth inning as the Rangers battered the Yankees 10-3 in Game 4 to take a commanding 3-1 lead in American League Championship Series.
"The only way to look at it is you have to win a game," Derek Jeter told the New York Post. "You can’t look at it like you have to win three games."
The Boston Red Sox were the last team to come back from a 3-1 ALCS deficit to win the series when they did it against the Cleveland Indians in 2007. Of the last 30 teams to fall into a 3-1 hole in the ALCS, only six have come back to win the series.
The Yankees are counting on ace CC Sabathia to keep their season alive in Game 5 on Tuesday. Sabathia, who has not pitched well in his two playoff starts, was smacked around by Texas for five runs in just four innings in Game 1.
"We have bounced back many times this year," Yankees manager Joe Girardi told reporters after the game. "Win, and then you go from there."
Burnett pitched surprisingly well Monday in his first start since Oct. 2, allowing just two runs through five innings before things fell apart in the sixth. With Nelson Cruz on second base, Girardi elected to intentionally walk left handed hitter David Murphy to pitch to the right handed Molina with two outs. Girardi's strategy backfired immediately as Molina hit Burnett's first offering into the right field seats to give Texas a 5-3 lead.
Burnett gave up five runs in six innings before giving way to the Yankees bullpen, which failed to quiet the red-hot Rangers bats. Josh Hamilton hit two solo home runs and Nelson Cruz added a homer for Texas against New York's battered bullpen. Yankees relievers have given up 11 runs in three innings of work over the last two games.
Robinson Cano hit a home run in the second inning for the Yankees, his third in four games.
New York suffered a huge blow in the fifth inning when first baseman Mark Teixeira injured his hamstring trying to beat out a throw at first base. The injury will keep the Yankees slugger from playing in the rest of the playoffs.
The Bronx Bombers are expected to replace Teixeira on the postseason roster with infielder Eduardo Nunez.
