Yankees 6, Rays 4
Russell Martin smashed a three-run, opposite-field homer to cap a five-run third inning as host New York downed Tampa Bay.
Alex Rodriguez had two RBIs and Hiroki Kuroda (14-10) struck out 10 in six innings as the Yankees maintained their American League East at one game over the Baltimore Orioles, who defeated the Oakland Athletics later Sunday.
Tampa Bay received a two-run single from Evan Longoria while cutting a five-run deficit to 6-4 in the sixth, but was blanked over the final three innings to fall five games behind the Yankees. The Rays are four games behind Baltimore for the AL’s second wild-card.
Kuroda allowed four runs and four hits, while Rafael Soriano induced Jeff Keppinger to ground into a game-ending double play for his 40th save. Rays starter Matt Moore (10-11) allowed five runs in three innings.
Tampa Bay’s Ben Zobrist reached base three times and hit his 17th homer.
GAME NOTEBOOK: New York’s Derek Jeter had a run-scoring single in the third to raise his season hit total to 199, one shy of his eighth 200-hit campaign. Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig is the only player in Yankees’ history with eight 200-hit seasons. … Rays manager Joe Maddon was ejected during New York’s third-inning uprising after Moore threw a pitch over the head of Yankees OF Curtis Granderson two batters after Martin’s homer. … Rays OF Sam Fuld left in the fifth with a hamstring injury.