NEW YORK, Sept. 26 (UPI) — Alex Cobb turned in seven shutout innings Thursday and pushed Tampa Bay closer to the playoffs with a 4-0 decision over the New York Yankees. (For big news of the game was the final Yankee Stadium game for Mariano Rivera, click here.)
It was the seventh straight win for the Rays, who maintained the lead in the race for the two American League wild card spots with their 90th victory of the season.
Cobb (11-3) allowed three hits and struck out four in winning his third start in a row. He gave up a single in the first and did not allow another hit until Curtis Granderson doubled leading off the eighth.
Lyle Overbay followed with a single and Cobb was then replaced by Joel Peralta, who retired the next three batters to preserve the shutout. Jake McGee worked a perfect ninth in a non-save situation.
Evan Longoria drove in three four runs, one of them with a single in the fourth and two more with a base hit in the eighth. Delmon Young hit his 10th home run in the seventh.
Ivan Nova (9-6) took the loss, allowing two runs on eight hits in seven innings.
One night after the Yankees were eliminated from the playoff chase, Alex Rodriguez remained on the bench and reportedly will not play in New York’s final series of the season against Houston.
Rodriguez has played in 44 games this season while appealing a four-month suspension.
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