Rays 6, Yankees 1
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- If Tampa Bay's wins the previous two nights over the division-leading New York Yankees were fortunate comebacks, Thursday's series finale was a resounding finish for the Rays.
The Rays pulled within a game of first place in the American League East with a 6-1 victory at Tropicana Field.
Tampa Bay (20-16) got five scoreless innings from right-hander Erasmo Ramirez (1-1), who won for the first time in more than a year and 25 appearances.
Catcher Rene Rivera's three-run homer in the second inning was the biggest blow against the Yankees ( 21-15), who lost starter Chase Whitley to an elbow injury after only five outs.
The Rays are four games above .500 for the first time since the end of the 2013 season.
Ramirez pitched five innings of one-hit ball for the victory and Rays reliever Matt Andriese carried the shutout into the ninth before Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez hit his ninth home run of the season.
The Yankees remain one of just three major league teams not to be shut out this season.
During the Rays' eight-game homestand, the bullpen compiled a 1.53 ERA, allowing just five earned runs in 29 1/3 innings.
The game drew an announced crowd of 11,977. The four smallest crowds ever for Yankees games at Tropicana Field came in the last four days.
After falling behind 2-0 in the top of the first inning and rallying to win in each of the previous two nights, the Rays got the early jump.
Right fielder Steven Souza doubled in the first inning and scored on a two-out RBI single by first baseman James Loney for a 1-0 lead.
Yankees starter Chase Whitley was pulled in the second with an elbow injury after his second walk of the inning. Reliever Esmil Rogers came in and Rivera took his first pitch deep for a three-run homer and a 4-0 lead.
Rivera, who totaled five RBIs in his first 95 at-bats this season, had four in his first two at-bats Thursday night, adding an RBI single in the fourth.
NOTES: Rays LHP Jake McGee has completed a rehab assignment and will join the team as early as Friday at Minnesota. McGee, the team's closer last season, is recovering from offseason elbow surgery. ... Rays RHP Alex Cobb underwent Tommy John surgery on his elbow in Pensacola with Dr. James Andrews. He's hopeful of returning late in the 2016 season. ... LHP Matt Moore, recovering from Tommy John surgery, will throw a bullpen session Friday and a simulated game Monday in extended spring training. He's still likely a month or more away from returning. ... The Yankees' trip to Kansas City for a three-game series marks their first games outside the Eastern time zone this season. They didn't have to change their clocks for the first 36 games, nor will they for the final 58 games. ... Yankees starter Chase Whitley left the game with an injury to his right elbow. He will be evaluated by Yankees physician Daniel Murphy in Tampa, with an imaging exam to take place Friday.