Rangers knock around Colon, beat Yanks

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Nick Swisher completed a comeback from five runs down with a home run in the top of the sixth inning, and what the Yankees most needed in the bottom half was a shutdown inning.

They didn't come close to getting it from lefthander Boone Logan, who hasn't been especially effective against lefties this season and was brutal Saturday night in a 7-5 loss to the Rangers in front of a sellout crowd of 49,574 at the Ballpark in Arlington.

"We need him to pitch well for us," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Just like all our relievers, we need consistency."

The Yankees (18-13) haven't gotten that from Logan, against whom lefties are now 8-for-22. His inconsistency, which Logan ascribed to problems with his slider, has been especially glaring because of the absence of Pedro Feliciano, signed in the offseason to be Girardi's primary weapon against lefthanders.

"It's frustrating because I'm the only lefty in the pen and I need to get my lefties out," Logan said. "I don't want anyone to give up on me."

Girardi said he might go with some of his righthanded relievers against lefties until Logan gets going, primarily because Logan, though good last season (a 2.93 ERA), has mostly been a journeyman and doesn't have years of consistency suggesting he'll rebound.

"It's a different feeling because they don't have the history that tells you they're going to get it done," Girardi said. "But I saw a lot of good things out of Boony and, like I said, we have to find a way to get him going, but he does not have the track record some other guys have."

Swisher's home run, his second of the season, off former Yankee Brett Tomko to lead off the sixth, tied it at 5-5. But Logan, who escaped from a two-on, one-out jam the previous inning in relief of an ineffective Bartolo Colon, couldn't keep the momentum against the three straight lefty hitters the Rangers sent to the plate.

"That's the spot for him," Girardi said of Logan.

Mitch Moreland doubled off the wall in left and Chris Davis singled to right, putting runners at first and third. With Julio Borbon up, Rangers manager Ron Washington called for a squeeze and Moreland scored easily when the centerfielder got the bunt down. Before the at-bat, Girardi visited the mound to discuss that exact play, one the Rangers executed against the Yankees in a 2010 victory.

"A gutsy call," Girardi said.

Said Logan: "He put down a perfect bunt."

Michael Young's single off David Robertson later in the inning brought in Davis to make it 7-5.

The Yankees were shut out the rest of the way by Arthur Rhodes, Darren Oliver and Neftali Feliz, who earned his sixth save.

Rangers starter Derek Holland, spotted a 5-0 lead after two, lasted just three innings, allowing four runs, four hits and five walks.

Colon came in 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA and had by far his worst start of the season. He allowed five runs and nine hits -- both season highs -- including two home runs.

"He left some balls in the middle and they hurt him," Girardi said.

Colon, who was pulled with one out in the fifth after 76 pitches, said physically he felt fine but didn't have the command that was present most of his first three starts. That was particularly true with his two-seam fastball, a favorite.

"It was difficult for me to control," Colon said. "Location was a problem today. I tried to pitch at the corners but the ball kept coming back over the middle."