Surging Yankees score 21 unanswered runs in blowout win over Rangers

The New York Yankees erased an early five-run deficit Tuesday by erupting for 11 runs in the second inning. They scored 10 more times just for good measure.

Chris Young had three hits, including a grand slam and two doubles, Didi Gregorius notched a career-high four hits, and the Yankees posted a major-league season-high 21 runs to beat the Texas Rangers for their fifth straight victory.

"Strange," manager Joe Girardi told reporters after the Yankees' 21-5 win. "I don't know if I've been a part of that where you give up five in the first and you don't give up another hit the rest of the game, and you score 21 runs. I don't know if I'll ever see that again."

The Yankees sent 15 batters to the plate in the top of the second, tallying 11 runs on 10 hits after Texas scored five times in the bottom of the first. A day after homering on his 40th birthday, Alex Rodriguez hit an RBI double off the top of the 14-foot wall in left field to chase starter Martin Perez with none out in the second.

The last time the Rangers allowed 11 runs in one inning was April 23, 2008 against the Detroit Tigers.

Tuesday's rout marked the eighth win in nine tries for the AL East-leading Yankees, who are a major-league-best 16-5 in July - matching the most wins they've had in a month since August 2013.

Young's grand slam in the third gave the Yankees a 15-5 lead, en route to the most runs they've scored in a game since a 22-9 win against Oakland on Aug. 25, 2011.

"It was fun. Not just mine, but everybody, to be able to come back in the second inning ... being able to come together and put up quality at-bats," Young said. "It was amazing."

(Videos courtesy: MLB.com)

- With files from The Associated Press