Six-Run Second Propels Yankees

Rookie Ryan Glynn got off to a great start, pitching a perfect first inning and striking out Derek Jeter and Paul O’Neill.

Then in a hurry, the game got away from Glynn and the Texas Rangers.

Jeter hit a three-run homer that capped a six-run second inning, and the New York Yankees defeated the Rangers, 6-2, on Tuesday night, sending the Rangers to their season-high fourth consecutive loss.

“I feel like I let my team down,” Glynn said after dropping his first major league decision. “I had to keep us in it early, and I didn’t.”

The Yankees beat Texas for the 14th time in 17 games, including a three-game sweep in the first round of last year’s playoffs. David Cone (7-2) pitched the American League East leaders to their fifth victory in six games.

“I didn’t realize it was that big an edge,” Jeter said.

The American League West-leading Rangers had not lost four in a row since July. Texas played without all-star catcher Ivan Rodriguez, who left Monday night’s game because of muscle spasms in his back.

“I don’t know about tomorrow,” Rodriguez said. “It doesn’t feel too good right now.”

Jeter struck out in his other three at-bats, ending his bid to become the first Yankee player with eight consecutive multihit games since Mike Easler in 1986.