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(Sports Network) - With their season perhaps hanging in the balance, the New York Yankees turn to Sidney Ponson tonight in the third test of a four-game series against Texas at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

The Yankees have dropped the first two games of a grueling 10-game road trip and have lost seven of their last 10 to drop 6 1/2 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East and 3 1/2 games off the pace of the Boston Red Sox in the wild card chase.

However, the news the Yankees received on Tuesday could be the final straw that breaks the camel's back on a disappointing season for Joe Girardi's crew.

After exiting Monday's loss with a stiff right shoulder, 22-year-old phenom Joba Chamberlain was flown back to New York for an MRI. The Yankees did not reveal the results of the MRI, but sent Chamberlain to noted sports surgeon Dr. James Andrews in Alabama for another examination.

Then, as if that news was not bad enough, the Yankees went out and dropped an 8-6 decision. Marlon Byrd, whose grand slam won Monday's opener, went 3-for-4 and scored three times, while Chris Davis drove in four runs to fuel the Rangers' offense.

Josh Hamilton chipped in a two-run homer for the Rangers, who have won three in a row and six of eight overall.

Matt Harrison (3-2) lasted 6 1/3 innings and gave up just two runs on five hits. Eddie Guardado worked around a leadoff walk to Derek Jeter in the ninth to secure his third save of the season.

Richie Sexson had a double and a grand slam for the Yankees, while Andy Pettitte (12-9) took the loss, as he surrendered five runs on six hits in five-plus innings.

Ponson, meanwhile, will be trying to follow up one of his better starts of the season. The 31-year-old righty, who is 6-2 with a 4.23 ERA, held the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to just two hits over seven scoreless innings, but did not factor in the decision of his team's 1-0 loss.

Of course, Ponson started his season with Texas, which designated him for assignment back in early June for "disrespecting teammates and club personnel".

The Rangers pounded Ponson in his first appearance against them back on July 2, managing seven runs and nine hits in five innings. The Yankee bats bailed him out that night, though, and he did not get a decision in his team's 18-7 triumph.

Ponson is 8-2 lifetime against the Rangers with a 5.22 ERA in 18 games, 16 of which have been starts.

Texas will hand the ball to 22-year-old righty Tommy Hunter, who will be making the second major league start of his young career. Hunter did not get a decision in his debut on Friday against Toronto, as he allowed six runs and eight hits in five innings of a 9-8 win.

Texas has won four of five from the Yankees this season, but New York had won 20 of 26 matchups against the Rangers the three previous seasons, including 11 of 12 in Arlington over that time.