Yankees 7. Rays 5
NEW YORK -- Slumping Vernon Wells hit a bases-clearing pinch double with two out in the bottom of the seventh inning, lifting the New York Yankees to a 7-5 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday.
Wells came into his bases-loaded at-bat against hard-throwing left-hander Jake McGee hitless in his previous 11 at-bats, and had only nine hits in his previous 87 at-bats, dropping his batting average to .221.
Batting for catcher Chris Stewart, Wells kept the at-bat going by fouling off an 0-and-2 fastball. Two pitches later, he hit another fastball to the gap in right-center field that bounced in and out of a fan's glove as he slightly leaned over the railing.
Often that is ruled a ground-rule double, which was Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon's contention when he discussed the play with third base umpire Greg Gibson. Gibson, however, ruled fan interference and allowed the third run to score.
The Yankees rallied from a 5-3 deficit by getting to Joel Peralta (1-4). Peralta issued a bases-loaded walk to David Adams, making it a one-run game and McGee struck out Jayson Nix before Wells got his first extra base hit since May 31.
CC Sabathia (8-5) allowed a solo home run Evan Longoria and a grand slam to rookie Wil Myers among six hits in seven innings.
After allowing Myers' first career home run, Sabathia finished his fourth victory in five starts by throwing 11 pitches to the final four hitters and getting a key double play grounder Jose Lobaton in the seventh.
David Robertson struck out two in the eighth, and in the ninth, Mariano Rivera allowed an infield hit before working around a two-out throwing error by Nix at shortstop for his 26th save.
Rookie Zoilo Almonte drove in three runs for the Yankees with a two-run single in the third and a bases-loaded walk in the fifth against Tampa Bay starter Alex Colome.
Colome lasted 4 1/3 innings in his second career start, allowing three unearned runs and five hits while issuing five walks.
NOTES: New York SS Derek Jeter took a break from rehabbing his broken left ankle in Tampa, Fla., by taking batting practice at Yankee Stadium. His rehab has consisted of doing everything except running outside. ... 3B Alex Rodriguez had five at-bats in a simulated game Friday. He had a hit and two walks. ... New York C Francisco Cervelli started taking swings and will progress to tee and toss work. ... To make room on the roster for for Alex Colome, Tampa Bay optioned RHP Josh Lueke to Class AAA Durham. ... Evan Longoria was intentionally walked for only the second time all season.
