NEW YORK — The New York Yankees are in need of a reliable ace right now. Hiroki Kuroda has been the man for the job.

Kuroda pitched a two-hitter and the Yankees got consecutive homers from Nick Swisher and Mark Teixeira in a 3-0 victory over the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night.

In his first season with New York, the 37-year-old Kuroda gave a depleted rotation yet another boost with ace CC Sabathia and veteran Andy Pettitte on the disabled list.

"This is a very good lineup that he just shut down," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Probably our best pitching performance of the year."

He held Texas hitless until Elvis Andrus' infield single leading off the seventh.

Notes

• Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine expressed surprise over a report that several Boston players met with team owner John Henry and team president Larry Lucchino last month to complain about the manager's handling of the team.

According to Yahoo! Sports, Adrian Gonzalez and Dustin Pedroia were "the most vocal" at a July 27 meeting in New York.

Asked about the meeting, Valentine said Tuesday, "I'm glad July is over because they are still playing for me. I don't know what issues they might be referring to. Dustin and I talked. That's a meeting I had. But I don't know if it was in July."

• Oakland has placed third baseman Brandon Inge on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right shoulder.

• Catcher Jeff Mathis has agreed to a $3 million, two-year contract with Toronto for 2013 and 2014.

• St. Louis has placed relief pitcher Brian Fuentes on the restricted list after the left-hander told the team he needed time off due to personal reasons. They're on the verge of getting left-handed starter Jaime Garcia back.

• The New York Mets acquired veteran catcher Kelly Shoppach from the Red Sox for a player to be named.