Mark Teixeira hit one of three New York home runs as the Yankees hammered the Oakland Athletics 9-3 Tuesday to take over sole possession of first place in the American League East.

Teixeira cracked a three-run homer, his 30th of the year, in a four-run fourth as the Yankees broke the game open. Nick Swisher and Curtis Granderson also homered in the contest.

Phil Hughes (16-6) cruised to the victory allowing four hits and two runs in five innings. He walked five and fanned one.

Vin Mazzaro (6-7) took the loss surrendering nine runs, seven of them earned, on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings.

New York scored three times in the first and never trailed. Jorge Posada highlighted the scoring in the opening frame with an RBI triple. Swisher hit a two-run homer in the third inning to increase the lead to 5-1.

Daric Barton homered for Oakland, which entered the contest 8 1/2 games behind the Texas Rangers in the AL West.