Texas @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( May 22, 2015 ) Texas 10, NY Yankees 9

The New York Yankees finally broke out of their offensive funk but their valiant comeback came up short in Friday's 10-9, series-opening loss to the Texas Rangers. The Yankees attempt to avoid a season-worst five-game skid when they host the visiting Rangers on Saturday in the second of a three-game set.

New York fell into an early 7-0 hole and trailed 10-5 before scoring four times in its final two at-bats Friday. It marked the eighth loss in nine games for the Yankees, their first 1-8 stretch since April 2007. Texas, meanwhile, has won three in a row as Prince Fielder had his first two-homer game in more than two years. Mitch Moreland has homered in back-to-back games and is riding a six-game hitting streak for the Rangers, who are 13-10 on the road.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FSN Southwest (Texas), WPIX (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Nick Martinez (3-0, 1.88 ERA) vs. Yankees LH CC Sabathia (2-5, 4.67)

Martinez does not possess dominating stuff but still has not permitted more than three earned runs in any of his eight starts. He halted a string of five consecutive no-decisions with a victory over Cleveland last time out, overcoming a season-high five walks while allowing one run over five innings. Martinez has pitched beyond the sixth inning just once since the first two starts of the season but has surrendered only one homer overall.

Sabathia won his second straight start with one of his best outings of the season, limiting Kansas City to one run and six hits over seven innings on May 16. Sabathia went 0-5 in his first six decisions while receiving a combined total of 13 runs of support, but the Yankees have pushed across 16 runs in his past two victories. He has made 18 career starts - none since 2012 - against the Rangers, posting an 11-3 mark and a 4.45 ERA.

WALK-OFFS

1. Yankees 1B Mark Teixeira swatted his 376th homer, moving past teammate Carlos Beltran for fourth all-time among switch-hitters.

2. Fielder has five homers and 13 RBIs while hitting safely in 10 of his last 11 games.

3. Beltran owns a 12-game hitting streak while DH Alex Rodriguez tied Babe Ruth and moved within three RBIs of Lou Gehrig (1,995) for fifth on the career list.

PREDICTION: Yankees 6, Rangers 3