After losing late thanks to a Rafael Palmeiro homer the day prior, the Yankees found themselves entrenched in a full-fledged slugfest against the Rangers 25 years ago today. Considering the final score, it’s safe to say that neither Roger Clemens nor Kenny Rogers had their best stuff in this one, while the bats for both sides seemed to be clicking throughout. In the end, the Yankees pulled it out in dramatic fashion, securing another win with double-digit runs against Texas.

August 23: Yankees 10, Rangers 9 (box score)

Record: 69-54 (1st in AL East, 3.0 games ahead)

The Rangers took the first lead in this one, as they hit the ground running in the top of the first. After a single and a double had runners in scoring position with two outs, Gabe Kapler’s double brought ‘em both in to secure the early 2-0 advantage for Texas.

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The Yankees, however, had no issue answering back in their half of the first. Derek Jeter led things off with a single, and was eventually scored thanks to a knock off the bat of Paul O’Neill. Tino Martinez tallied an RBI later in the inning with a productive groundout, before Jorge Posada gave the Yanks a 3-2 lead with a single into right. After just an inning of play, five runners had already touched home.

The scoring wouldn’t stop there, either. Bill Haselman led off the second with a solo homer for the Rangers, squaring the game right back up at three, as Clemens continued to struggle finding his footing. Not to worry, however, O’Neill responded with another RBI single in the inning, putting the Yankees up 4-3 through just two innings. This was before Clemens likely experienced some déjà vu, when Rusty Greer led off the next inning with another solo shot, once again tying this game up.

Square once again at four, Posada continued his big day in the bottom of the third. After Jeter singled and was advanced to third base, the Yankee catcher pushed him across with a timely sacrifice fly. Mercifully, Clemens followed up the acquisition of the 5-4 lead with his first 1-2-3 inning of the evening. The Rocket ultimately completed six rocky innings in this one, allowing four runs on six hits and four walks, although he did rack up nine strikeouts.

The Bombers built on their one-run lead in the sixth inning, with the help of (you guessed it) Posada. After a pair of walks got things started, the switch-hitting backstop pushed a run across with his double into right field, leaving the Yankees now up 6-4. They would make it 7-4 in the next inning when Luis Sojo managed an RBI knock of his own.

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Their old friend Ricky Ledée came back to haunt the Yankees in the seventh inning, however, as his three-run bomb suddenly had this game knotted up once again. With no outs still, a two-run single later in the frame from Luis Alicea had the Rangers on top 9-7 in a flash, as the see-saw that was this game continued to do its thing.

Now trailing by two, the Yankees had a runner on in the eighth for the night’s hero, Posada. He did not disappoint, capping off his huge evening with a game-tying blast into center field. The stellar performance from Posada saw him go 3-for-4 with five RBIs against the Rangers, as he easily led the charge for the Yankee offense.

Tied up yet again, this time at nine runs a piece, this game headed into the bottom of the ninth with a chance for the Yankees to walk it off. Luis Polonia and José Vizcaíno led the frame off with a pair of singles, before a fielder’s choice had Polonia on third base with one out. Tino Martinez had a chance to be the hero, and he cashed in, pulling a grounder down the right field line just barely past a diving Frank Catalanatto at first base. It scored the winning run, and secured as hard fought a win for the Yankees as you’ll find.

The 10-9 victory preserved their narrow three-game lead in the East, and was the kind of win that can be a real momentum-builder. Taking a win like this was huge for this up-and-down 2000 squad as they headed into a finale with the middling Rangers.

Read the full 2000 Yankees Diary series here.