Rays Beat the Yankees to Increase Their Lead in the East

NEW YORK (AP) – Jason Bartlett hit his latest leadoff homer in

New York to begin a beating of the banged-up Yankees, and the

streaking Tampa Bay Rays held on for a 10-6 victory Wednesday night

in the opener of a two-game series between baseball's top two

teams.

Evan Longoria had three hits and two RBIs, sending the AL East

leaders to their fifth straight win. Tampa Bay stole six bases

against starting pitcher A.J. Burnett – four in a four-run fourth

inning – and improved to 29-11, the best record for a big league

team after 40 games since Boston had the same mark in 2002.

Trailing 10-2 going into the ninth, New York scored four times

with two outs against Andy Sonnanstine.