Yankees 7, Rays 0
Russell Martin belted a grand slam and Andy Pettitte scattered two hits over 7 1/3 sizzling innings as host New York cruised to its ninth victory in 12 games.
After plating a pair of runs on shortstop Elliot Johnson's throwing error in the first inning, the Yankees broke open the contest in the fourth. With the bases loaded, Martin deposited an 0-2 fastball from James Shields (6-4) over the wall in right-center field to give New York a 6-0 advantage.
Martin collected three hits and Nick Swisher added an RBI double in the fifth inning to give Pettitte (3-2) a comfortable cushion. The veteran left-hander struck out a season-high 10 batters - including five in a row at one point - to improve to 17-6 lifetime versus Tampa Bay.
Shields was not as fortunate. He yielded seven runs on as many hits and walked four over five innings to fall to 5-13 in his career against the Yankees.
New York benefited from three errors by Tampa Bay to pull within one-half game of the Rays in the American League East.
GAME NOTEBOOK: New York 2B Robinson Cano was named the captain for the American League Home Run Derby team. ... Martin's grand slam was the third allowed by Shields in his career. The homer was Martin's fifth of the season. ... Tampa Bay's Hideki Matsui received a warm ovation prior to his first at-bat. Matsui, who played with the Yankees from 2003-09, earned World Series MVP honors in his last season in the Bronx. He went 0-for-4. ... The Rays activated LF Desmond Jennings from the disabled list prior to the game. Jennings, who had been sidelined with a sprained left knee, batted in the leadoff position and went 1-for-4.