ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Curtis Granderson backed a solid pitching performance by Freddy Garcia with a two-run homer, leading the New York Yankees to a 4-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night.
Garcia (8-7) scattered eight hits, struck out seven and walked none over 6 2-3 innings. The right-hander worked out of tight spots with runners in scoring position four times and reliever Boone Logan bailed him out of a fifth.
Granderson homered off David Price (9-8) in the first inning. David Robertson pitched a 1-2-3 eighth for the Yankees, and Mariano Rivera added a perfect ninth in a non-save situation to finish the combined shutout.
Price, who is 20-6 all-time against AL East opponents, allowed two runs and six hits in 7 1-3 innings. He walked two, struck out five and hit Granderson in the back with his final pitch of the game.
The second-place Yankees won for the fourth time in five games, remaining 1½ games behind Boston in the AL East. Third-place Tampa Bay has lost six of eight to fall a season-high eight games off the pace in the division.
The Rays have been shut out in three of their last seven games and 10 times overall — nine since June 1.
Price allowed a home run to Granderson for the second time this season and a left-handed batter for only the fourth time in his career. Boston's Jacoby Ellsbury went deep against the 25-year-old lefty last week and Philadelphia's Chase Utley homered off Price in 2009.
Derek Jeter singled leading off the game, collecting career hit No. 3,009 — one shy of tying Hall of Famer Wade Boggs for 25th on the all-time list — off the same pitcher who yielded his 3,000th on July 9 at Yankee Stadium. Granderson followed with his 26th homer to give Garcia all the support he would need.
The Rays stranded runners in scoring position in four of the first five innings, including the fifth when Johnny Damon singled and advanced to third on Casey Kotchman's third hit — a two-out double. Evan Longoria hit a long drive to center that Granderson retreated to catch just before crashing into the wall.
Garcia struck out Matt Joyce, Longoria and Sean Rodriguez to get out of jams in the first, third and fourth.
Eduardo Nunez's two-run single off Cesar Ramos gave the Yankees a 4-0 lead in the ninth.
Notes: Yankees manager Joe Girardi hasn't ruled out moving LF Brett Gardner into the leadoff spot and dropping Jeter into the two-hole against right-handed starters with 3B Alex Rodriguez out of the lineup after having surgery on his right knee. Rodriguez is working out in a pool as part of his rehab program. ... Price has allowed a home run in four consecutive starts for the first time in his career. ... Rays RF Ben Zobrist was not in the starting lineup after fouling a pitch off his right calf on Tuesday night. ... New York IF Eric Chavez (broken left foot) went 4 for 5 as the DH in his second game with Class-A Tampa. He will play defense on Thursday. RHP Rafael Soriano (right elbow inflammation) is scheduled for his second rehab appearance in Thursday's game. Both could rejoin the Yankees next week. ... Girardi said RHP Ivan Nova, who hurt his right ankle in a start at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday, was feeling better, although he'll miss his next scheduled start after being placed on the 7-day DL.