ARLINGTON, Texas -- Alex Rodriguez hit a home run on his 40th birthday, and shortstop Didi Gregorius set a career high with four RBIs as the New York Yankees pounded the Texas Rangers 6-2 Monday night.

Designated hitter Rodriguez added an insurance run in the sixth inning with his solo homer to right. The home run off Texas starter Matt Harrison made Rodriguez just the fourth player in the majors to homer in his teens and his 40s.

Gregorius, who matched his career high with three hits, tied the game at 2-2 with a two-run home run off Harrison in the second inning and then broke it open with a two-run single to right in the seventh.

The Yankees are now 3-1 on their 10-game road trip while the Rangers have dropped 11 of their last 12 games at Globe Life Park.

The big night from Gregorius helped make a winner out of Ivan Nova, who allowed two runs in the second inning but that was it in his five innings of work. Nova allowed five hits and struck out two before turning the game over to the New York bullpen, which totaled four hitless innings.

Harrison, who was making his third start since returning from spinal fusion surgery, allowed six runs on six hits in his six-plus innings.

Texas took a 2-0 lead in the second off Nova on an RBI double by shortstop Elvis Andrus and a run-scoring single from center fielder Leonys Martin. That would be all the offense for Texas, which had just five hits.

After not getting a hit in the first two innings the Yankees jumped on Harrison for three runs on three hits in the third. Gregorius followed a single by third baseman Chase Headley with a two-run homer to right to tie the game at 2-2.

Second baseman Brendan Ryan lined a triple into the corner, and left fielder Chris Young's sacrifice fly to left put the Yankees on top 3-2.

NOTES: Texas 2B Rougned Odor was named the American League player of the week after batting .385 with three home runs and eight RBIs in six games last week. Odor had seven extra-base hits and scored nine runs. ...Texas recalled RHP Phil Klein from Triple-A Round Rock for bullpen depth and sent RHP Anthony Bass to Round Rock to make room for Klein. Bass is second in the AL in innings pitched by a reliever at 51 2/3 innings. Klein had been starting for Round Rock but hadn't pitched since July 17. ...Texas designated RHP Ross Ohlendorf for assignment. Ohlendorf made eight appearances for Texas earlier this year but had been on the disabled list with a strained right groin. ...New York OF Jacoby Ellsbury was out of the lineup Monday one day after jamming his left shoulder. Ellsbury wasn't scheduled to play Monday but did get treatment on his shoulder and expects to play Tuesday. ...RHP Bryan Mitchell, who is in Triple-A, was originally slated to start Tuesday's game against the Rangers but hit his head doing exercises over the weekend. New York manager Joe Girardi said Mitchell is fine now but won't get the start. ...According to Elias, the three home runs New York DH Alex Rodriguez had Sunday made him the fifth-oldest player to have a three-homer game in his career.