NEW YORK - No disputing this: The Texas Rangers are routing the New York Yankees and are now just one win from their first trip to the World Series.

Bengie Molina hit a go-ahead, three-run homer off A.J. Burnett in the sixth inning, Josh Hamilton added a pair of solo drives to give him four in four games and the Rangers battered the Yankees 10-3 Tuesday night for a 3-1 lead in the AL championship series.

On a night of contested home runs, a serious injury to Mark Teixeira and more late walks by the Rangers, the AL West champions brought a little bit of the Wild West with them.

Texas, however, left no doubt with its long home runs.

"It's not a bad job for a fat kid, that everybody makes fun when he runs," Molina said.

Fans started streaming out of Yankee Stadium in the late innings, while Rangers president and part-owner Nolan Ryan smiled in his seat.

It was a costly loss for the defending World Series champion Yankees.

Teixeira limped off in the fifth inning with a strained right hamstring and manager Joe Girardi said the team would likely replace the All-Star first baseman on the roster with infielder Eduardo Nunez.

Game 5 today will have a rematch of starters from the opener, with the Yankees’ CC Sabathia against C.J. Wilson. Since the LCS went to a best-of-seven format, 24 of the 30 previous teams to take 3-1 series leads have won pennants.

“We have bounced back many times in this year,” Girardi said. “Win, and then you go from there.”

While the Yankees are seeking a record 41st pennant, Texas is trying to reach its first World Series since the franchise started play as the expansion Washington Senators in 1961.

Instead of trying to avoid Cliff Lee, the Yankees can only hope to force a Game 7 and face him again.

Aiming for a Series matchup against San Francisco or Philadelphia, Texas has outscored the Yankees 30-11, outhit them 43-26 and would have swept if not for wasting a five-run lead in the opener.