Yankees 6, Rays 5
NEW YORK -- Derek Jeter made a successful return from the disabled list and Alfonso Soriano had the game-winning single with one out in the ninth, lifting the New York Yankees to a 6-5 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in front of their third sellout crowd of the season Sunday at Yankee Stadium
Jeter homered on the first pitch he saw from Tampa Bay starter Matt Moore with one out in the first and singled in his second at-bat. He also had two groundouts to shortstop in which he was more controlled in his run to first base than usual in an effort to protect the right quadriceps that had sidelined him since July 11.
Soriano had his first four hits since being re-acquired by the Yankees Friday, and Ichiro Suzuki had four singles.
But those were not nearly as dramatic as the moment Jeter stepped into the batter's box after Brett Gardner led off the ninth inning with a walk and the score tied 5-5.
The crowd of 47,714 fans gave him a loud ovation and Queen's "We Will Rock You" blared as reliever Jake McGee changed his belt. The loud cheers continued as Jeter dug in.
The at-bat started with Jeter trying to bunt, but McGee's first pitch allowed Gardner to take second. Following a mound visit and a brief conversation with plate umpire John Hirschebeck, Jeter was intentionally walked.
Robinson Cano struck out on three pitches, but on the next pitch Soriano poked a single up the middle to drive in the winning run. It gave the Yankees their seventh win in 18 games and touched off a celebration and a Gatorade shower from Gardner as Soriano conducted his on-field interview.
Mariano Rivera (2-2) capped a stellar day by the Yankee bullpen by getting three groundouts to second base in a hitless ninth. Preston Claiborne, Boone Logan, David Robertson combined on five scoreless innings after starter Phil Hughes labored through four-plus innings and allowed five runs and nine hits.
Rookie Wil Myers had his first career two-home run game, hitting a three-run shot off Hughes in the third that staked Tampa Bay to a 3-1 lead. Myers then hitting a solo shot that tied the game at 5-5.
Jeter's home run on a high outside fastball from Tampa Bay starter Matt Moore in the first inning was the first by a Yankee right-handed batter since June 25 against Texas. It was his first since Sept. 9 and first at home since Aug. 27 against Toronto.
After getting a dominant two-hitter from Chris Archer Saturday, Moore labored through a 91-pitch outing. Seeking his 15th victory, Moore was tagged for five runs and eight hits in five innings as he did not win his seventh consecutive start.
NOTES: The Yankees held a pregame ceremony honoring Hideki Matsui for his seven years with the team that culminated with him becoming the MVP of the 2009 World Series. Matsui said that signing with the Yankees was the greatest moment of his life, and GM Bran Cashman said: "It's a pleasure to be here to talk about such a wonderful human being. Hideki represents everything the Yankees aspire to be and that's a credit to his family and his country." ... The Yankees said that IF Jayson Nix will be activated or Tuesday's game in Los Angeles after he missed nearly a month with a hamstring injury. ...Tampa Bay 2B Ben Zobrist had the day off after fouling a ball off his right foot Saturday. ,.. DH Luke Scott returned to the Tampa Bay lineup after sitting out Saturday with soreness in the back/neck area.
