Yankees 8, Rays 3
Nick Swisher homered and Lance Berkman had a two-run double in a five-run first inning as the New York Yankees made it two straight wins over the visiting Tampa Bay Rays with an 8-3 victory on Tuesday night.
Phil Hughes (17-8) went 6 1/3 solid innings, allowing three runs on four hits, as the Yankees opened a 2 1/2-game lead over the Rays in the American League East. Hughes struck out six and walked five.
Jorge Posada and Curtis Granderson had RBI singles in the first inning off Tampa Bay starter James Shields (13-13), who pitched well after the disastrous opening frame in which he threw 42 pitches.
Robinson Cano had a bloop two-run double in the seventh and Derek Jeter added two hits to extend his hitting streak to 10 games as the Yankees assured themselves of no worse than a split of the four-game series.
Shields lost for the first time in six outings against New York this season, surrendering five runs on seven hits while striking out four and walking two.
Tampa, which stranded 10 runners, got a solo homer from Matt Joyce and RBI singles from Evan Longoria and Carl Crawford.