Bronx, NY – David Price tossed five solid innings and Drew Sutton had two RBI, as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the New York Yankees, 7-3, to avoid a three-game sweep.
Price (8-3) gave up one run on three hits while striking out eight and walking four for the Rays, who had scored just one run over the first two games of the series. Price has allowed just three runs over his last four starts.
Elliot Johnson, B.J. Upton, Ben Zobrist and Jose Lobaton each had an RBI and run scored for Tampa Bay.
New York starter CC Sabathia (7-3) allowed five runs -- three earned -- on seven hits over seven full frames. The left-hander fanned a season-high 12 batters.
"It's a little frustrating not being able to pick up the guys," admitted Sabathia.
Russell Martin hit a solo homer for the Yankees, who were trying to complete their fourth series sweep of the season. Raul Ibanez and Chris Stewart had an RBI apiece.
The Rays got on the board in the second inning. Upton led off with a double to left and raced home on Lobaton's bloop single to right.
New York responded with a run of its own in the bottom of the frame. Nick Swisher singled and Andruw Jones walked. Swisher went to third on a wild pitch and scored when Stewart grounded out to second.
Tampa Bay went back in front in the third. Johnson reached first on third baseman Alex Rodriguez's throwing error and scored on Zobrist's single. Desmond Jennings followed with a double to left to put men on second and third with one out. Upton's sacrifice fly made it a 3-1 game.
The visitors tacked on two more runs in the fourth. Lobaton and Matt Joyce hit back-to-back singles with one out. Sutton knocked in both runners with a double off the base of the wall in left.
The Yankees loaded the bases with one out in the fifth. Price stayed calm, though, and fanned Rodriguez before getting Robinson Cano to ground out.
"David was outstanding. He only threw five innings but it was almost like he threw a complete game," said Rays manager Joe Maddon about Price, who threw 109 pitches in five innings. "That last inning, that fifth inning, he had to really fight through some adversity."
The home team did get a run back in the eighth. Jake McGee put men on first and second with one out. Joel Peralta came in from the bullpen and got Swisher swinging for the second out. Pinch-hitter Ibanez followed with an RBI single to center, making it a 5-2 game.
But Tampa Bay tacked on two insurance runs in the ninth. Clay Rapada walked Joyce with one out. Cory Wade then took over on the mound and gave up a double to Sutton. Swisher's fielding error in the right corner allowed Joyce to score. Johnson followed with an RBI double to left-center field for a 7-2 lead.
J.P. Howell gave up a leadoff homer to Martin in the bottom half of the inning. Howell retired the next two batters before hitting Mark Teixeira with a pitch. Fernando Rodney recorded the final out to secure the victory.
Game Notes
The Rays lead the season series with the Yankees, 5-4...The game was delayed 26 minutes at the start due to rain...Price improved to 6-3 in 16 games (15 starts) versus the Yankees, while Sabathia fell to 10-8 lifetime against the Rays...New York placed pitcher Freddy Garcia on the bereavement list and recalled pitcher Ryota Igarashi from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre...The Yankees went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10.
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