Yankees 4, Rays 2 (1st)
Robinson Cano delivered a go-ahead two-run double in the eighth inning as the New York Yankees clinched a playoff spot with a 4-2 victory over the visiting Tampa Bay Rays in the opener of a day-night doubleheader Wednesday.
Cano's bullet to deep center off J.P. Howell put New York in the postseason for the 16th time in 17 years and gave the Yankees a chance to possibly clinch the AL East title with a win over the Rays coupled with a Boston loss Wednesday night.
With scheduled starter Phil Hughes scratched due to back spasms, New York used eight pitchers to deliver another blow to the wild-card hopes of Tampa Bay, which fell 2 1/2 games behind the Red Sox.
Luis Ayala (2-2) worked two-thirds of an inning for the win. Mariano Rivera converted his 15th consecutive save and 44th of the season to boost his major league career-leading total to 603.
Eduardo Nunez tied it at 2-2 in the eighth with a line-drive homer off James Shields that barely cleared the wall in left field. It was his fifth homer of the season and first since Aug. 7.
Shields (15-12) lost for the 11th time in 15 career decisions against the Yankees, giving up all four runs on six hits in 7 1/3 innings.
New York spot starter Hector Noesi lasted 2 2/3 innings, allowing both runs on Desmond Jennings' two-run homer in the third inning.