(My Sportsbook) - The Texas Rangers attempt to make it two in a row over New York at Yankee Stadium this afternoon as the three-game set in the Bronx continues.

Hank Blalock hit a pair of three-run doubles yesterday, including one with two outs in the 12th inning, to lead the Rangers to an 8-5 victory over the Yankees in the opener of the series.

Blalock, who leads the league with a .367 batting average, finished 2-for-7 and struck out four times. He extended his hitting streak to 10 games.

Buck Showalter picked up a victory in his return to Yankee Stadium as manager of the Rangers. He was the Yankee skipper from 1992-95.

Michael Young added four hits and two runs scored for the Rangers, who snapped a three-game slide and won for only the second time in eight games. Carl Everett and Rafael Palmeiro also drove in runs for Texas.

Texas, which has given up the most runs in the Majors this season (269), welcomes righty Ismael Valdes back from the disabled list. The veteran has not pitched since April 19 because of tendinitis in his throwing shoulder. That problem helps explain a sluggish start to the campaign for Valdes, as he lost two of three outings before being deactivated.

Valdes has only made two career starts against the Yankees and will attempt to improve his 8.00 ERA against New York.

The Rangers in last place in the AL West, nine games back of front-running Seattle.