Rays 3, Yankees 2
NEW YORK -- Left-hander Matt Moore and four relievers combined on a five-hitter as the Tampa Bay Rays held on for a 3-2 victory over the New York Yankees on Saturday afternoon.
Moore returned to Tampa Bay's rotation after spending the past month with Triple-A Durham. Two weeks after getting 16 strikeouts in a start for Durham, Moore allowed two runs and three hits in 4 2/3 innings vs. New York (75-59).
Although he was unable to get past the sixth for the seventh straight start since having Tommy John surgery last year, Moore was better than his last stint with Tampa Bay (67-68), when he posted an 8.78 ERA in six starts before being demoted to the minors.
Moore did not qualify for the win Saturday because official scoring rules say the most effective relief pitcher gets the victory when a starter does not go at least five innings.
Brandon Gomes retired right fielder Carlos Beltran for the final out of the fifth and Xavier Cedeno (4-1) earned the win. Cedeno struck out four in 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
Alex Colome struck out pinch hitter Jacoby Ellsbury for the final out of the seventh. He loaded the bases on consecutive two-out singles and a walk but escaped when shortstop Didi Gregorius hit a hard lineout to second baseman Logan Forsythe.
Brad Boxberger tossed a perfect ninth and notched his 34th save in 39 chances.
Tampa Bay's pitching made three runs off New York right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (14-3) stand up.
Center fielder Kevin Kiermaier had an RBI single with two on and two outs in the second. The Rays struck again with two outs and the bases loaded in the third when shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera lined a two-run single to right.
Moore took a shutout into fifth but gave up an RBI double off the left-field wall by shortstop Didi Gregorius and an RBI groundout by center fielder Brett Gardner. Gardner was robbed of a hit by Cabrera's diving stop, but the Yankees had the tying run on after left fielder Chris Young drew a 10-pitch walk, springing Tampa Bay's bullpen into action.
Eovaldi allowed three runs and three hits in 5 1/3 innings while taking his first loss in 10 decisions since June 15.
NOTES: New York CF Jacoby Ellsbury was out of the starting lineup after leaving with flu-like symptoms after the fourth inning Friday. He came in as a pinch hitter on Saturday and went 0-for-2. ... Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash provided updates on injured OF Desmond Jennings (left knee), C Curt Casali (left hamstring) and LHP Jake McGee (left knee). Cash said Jennings took swings off a hitting machine without incident Friday and has done some jogging in the pool. He also said Casali has started throwing and McGee has begun playing catch. Cash said he thinks Jennings could return before the season ends and said he would discuss with McGee about pitching in the final week if the team is out of contention. ... Yankees manager Joe Girardi reiterated LHP CC Sabathia is on track to start Wednesday if his left knee feels good after pitching a four-inning simulated game.