The Tampa Bay Rays inched closer to the American League East lead on Monday, defeating the New York Yankees, 4-3.
Tampa Bay struck first when Chris Gimenez singled to centerfield, scoring Jeff Keppinger. B.J. Upton added to that lead with a solo home run in the second inning.
New York, as expected, battled back, scoring three times in the fourth inning. Eric Chavez hit a sacrifice fly scoring Robinson Cano, before Raul Ibanez tripled, scoring Alex Rodriguez. Russell Martin reached on an infield single, scoring Ibanez, giving the Yankees a 3-2 lead.
Evan Longoria tied the game up with an RBI groundout in the fifth.
Tampa Bay took the lead back in the eighth, when Gimenez again singled, this time off of David Robertson, scoring Ryan Roberts, and giving the Rays a 4-3 lead.
Fernando Rodney notched his 41st save of the season, but not before some drama in the ninth. After Rodriguez struck out, Eric Chavez reached on an error by third baseman Elliot Johnson. Eduardo Nunez entered the game as a pinch runner, stealing second and advancing to third on a groundout by Ibanez.
Curtis Granderson came on to pinch hit with the tying run on third, but Rodney struck him out, ending the game, and bringing the Rays within two and a half games of the American League East lead.
James Shields pitched eight strong innings and picked up the win, improving to 13-8 on the season. David Robertson fell to 1-5 with the loss.
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