Yankees 5, Rays 2
NEW YORK -- Rookie right-hander Luis Severino pitched into the seventh inning for the first time while designated hitter Alex Rodriguez, catcher Brian McCann and first baseman Greg Bird homered as the New York Yankees opened a 10-game homestand with a 5-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.
Severino (3-2) won his third straight start despite tying a career-high allowing seven hits. He took a shutout into the sixth before allowing third baseman Evan Longoria's 18th home run.
After getting beat by Longoria, Severino walked shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and gave up a single to first baseman James Loney. He needed only three pitches to escape his biggest jam of the night as he fanned center fielder Kevin Kiermaier on a high fastball.
Severino pumped his fist slightly and clapped into his glove as he walked off the mound. He exited to a standing ovation after allowing an infield single to left fielder Grady Sizemore in the seventh.
The 21-year-old struck out five, walked three and threw 91 pitches for strikes on a night when he put a runner on in every inning but the fifth.
By the time Severino's sixth start ended, he had support due to three big swings off Tampa Bay right-hander Jake Odorizzi (6-8).
Rodriguez hit his 27th home run with nobody out in the second, McCann hit his 24th with one out in the fourth and Bird hit his fourth with one out in the seventh.
Bird's home run came after left-hander Justin Wilson recorded the final two outs of the seventh against the potential tying run.
Adam Warren gave up a one-out double to catcher J.P. Arencibia in the ninth but Andrew Miller quickly finished up for his 30th save in 31 chances.
Odorizzi allowed a season-high three home runs in 6 1/3 innings and saw his winless streak extended to seven starts.
Rodriguez made it 2-0 with nobody out in the second when he drove a first-pitch breaking ball into the left-field seats.
McCann made it 3-0 with one out in the fourth when he drove a full count fastball into the first row of the right-center field bleachers behind the Yankees bullpen.
The Rays had a runner on in each of the first four innings but were unable to get a runner past second. They had two on and two out in the fourth but Severino retired Kiermaier on a groundout before retiring the side in the fifth.
NOTES: New York 1B Mark Teixeira (bruised right shin) was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday. ... Tampa Bay OF Steven Souza Jr. (fractured left hand) will begin a three-game rehab stint with Triple-A Durham before the team decides to activate him. Souza took early batting practice Friday and felt no pain or soreness. ... LHP CC Sabathia (sore right knee) threw a four-inning simulated game consisting of about 60 to 70 pitches and felt no pain. If he is pain-free in the next few days, the Yankees said he probably will return to the rotation Wednesday against Baltimore. ... Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said LHP Matt Moore will not have any pitch restrictions Saturday afternoon.