Rays beat Yanks, move into tie with Bosox

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The night's biggest roar -- the biggest because Rays fans and the sizable contingent of Yankees fans reacted at once -- didn't come after a play but between innings.

Before the Yankees batted in the seventh inning of their 5-2 loss to the Rays Monday night at Tropicana Field, the big screen in right showed a score that inflamed the passions of the two fan bases:

Orioles 6, Red Sox 2.

Boston's eventual 6-3 loss and Tampa Bay's win over the Yankees improbably pulled the Rays even with the Sox in the chase for the AL wild card with two games to play. Boston had led by nine games entering Sept. 4.

"They're cheering for the scoreboard, which doesn't necessarily happen really often when you're at a ballpark,'' Joe Girardi said of the somewhat different atmosphere. "That's a little bit different.''

If a one-game playoff between the Rays and Red Sox is needed, it will be played here Thursday.

How difficult the Yankees will make the Rays' journey toward capturing the wild card was the primary topic of Girardi's pregame meeting with reporters, and it came up again afterward.

"I think we're in a tough position,'' he said before the game. "I think one of the real reasons we're in a tough position is because you only have one day off . I think that makes it even tougher. My first objective is to make sure our team is ready and healthy to go on Friday. That's what we have to do.''

To that end, as was the case after the Yankees clinched the division title and home-field advantage late last week, Girardi sent out what he calls a "representative'' lineup, meaning a combination of starters and bench players. Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson, Robinson Cano and Alex Rodriguez played; Mark Teixeira and Nick Swisher had days off.

"We're playing to win,'' Girardi said. "I have Bartolo Colon tomorrow and I have a loaded bullpen tomorrow.''

He did not Monday night, with the Yankees coming off a doubleheader against Boston on Sunday that caused him to use all of his front-line relievers during a day that lasted deep into the night.

Hector Noesi, on a pitch count of 60 to 70, allowed three runs in two innings-plus and was followed to the mound by Raul Valdes, Phil Hughes -- making his second relief appearance of the year -- George Kontos, Luis Ayala and Andrew Brackman.

"I have to pick the time to use my relievers because the one thing I don't want them to do is, if you get in some long games on Friday and Saturday, I have to make sure they can go multiple innings,'' Girardi said. "And if you start throwing them a lot [now] and you wear them down a little bit, shame on me. I mean, my responsibility is to this club.''

After a 4:30 a.m. arrival at their hotel Monday morning, the Yankees took an early lead against James Shields (16-12). Cano's 28th home run in the first inning and RBI single in the third produced a 2-0 lead. That gave him 118 RBIs, one fewer than American League leader Granderson.

But the Rays scored three times in the third, with B.J. Upton doubling home two runs and scoring on Johnny Damon's single, and Shields didn't allow a run the rest of his outing. He gave up six hits in 82/3 innings, with Kyle Farnsworth picking up the final out.

"I'm watching the scoreboard, yes, I'm listening to the updates, all of the above,'' Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "It's great. We're really into it. We feel good about this. We like our chances.''

Girardi said Hughes, whose only chance to make the postseason roster is as a reliever, will get another relief appearance Wednesday. He struck out one and allowed one hit and two walks in 12/3 innings Monday night.

"Physically I felt good. The back was a non-issue,'' said Hughes, who had not pitched since Sept. 12 because of back spasms. "I wasn't locating perfectly, but overall I felt pretty good.''

Kind of like the Rays.