NEW YORK (AP) Steven Souza Jr. homered twice on his 27th birthday and the Tampa Bay Rays went deep five times in all, finally giving Drew Smyly some run support Sunday in an 8-1 victory over the New York Yankees.
Souza and Corey Dickerson each hit a two-run homer in a five-run first inning against Michael Pineda. Steve Pearce and Logan Forsythe added solo shots to help Tampa Bay prevent a three-game sweep and finish its 3-3 road trip to Boston and New York on a positive note.
Alex Rodriguez exited with stiffness on his left side (oblique) and was sent for an MRI, the Yankees said. Rodriguez drove in New York's lone run with a fourth-inning double off the top of the left-field fence, then was pulled for a pinch hitter in the sixth.
New York completed a 3-6 homestand and lost for the eighth time in 11 games.
Smyly (1-2) went seven innings in his third consecutive strong start.
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