OAKLAND -- The nagging cough that sapped Mark Teixeira's energy for weeks appears to be a thing of the past, and so is the slugger's experiment of chasing batting-average-boosting singles.

Teixeira has returned to a mindset that has proven trusty for years, which is to swing hard and blast the ball over the wall. It worked on Saturday, as Teixeira homered twice among his four hits to lead the Yankees past the Athletics, 9-2, at O.co Coliseum.

"You can always try to change things, you can try to tinker with things, but I am who I am," Teixeira said. "I wouldn't know how to explain what kind of hitter I am. I just go up there, see the ball and try to hit it really hard."

Robinson Cano also homered for the Yankees, who won their fourth straight game. Pitching in front of about 200 family members and friends, local product CC Sabathia tossed seven sharp innings to log his first victory in three starts.

But the star of the afternoon was Teixeira, who hit a solo fourth-inning homer and laced a two-run single in the fifth off former teammate Bartolo Colon, who allowed six runs in six innings.

Teixeira added a shift-beating hit in the eighth before homering off Graham Godfrey in the ninth, a two-run shot, giving him his eighth of the season.

"It's what we've always known he's capable of doing," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Tex is another guy who can carry your club for a while; that's how hot he can get. He swung the bat great today."

Home run hitting is vital for the Yankees, who are 25-11 when hitting at least one home run. They are 0-10 in games without a homer.

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