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Yanks' Nova finally falls on road

Jul 4, 2012 - 5:57 AM St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Rays extended one streak and ended another with their 7-4 win over the New York Yankees Tuesday night.

Sean Rodriguez belted a go-ahead two-run homer in the fourth inning for the Rays, who have won nine straight home games against the Yankees.

James Shields (8-5) tossed seven innings for Tampa Bay, allowing four runs on 10 hits. Fernando Rodney earned his 24th save of the season with a flawless ninth.

"I thought it was a good game overall. Our offense did a great job and we made some pretty good plays on defense," said Shields. "Overall, it was a pretty good win."

New York starter Ivan Nova (9-3) surrendered six runs -- three earned -- on seven hits in six-plus innings to suffer his first road loss since June 3, 2011 against the Angels. He had gone 12-0 in his previous 16 outings away from Yankee Stadium.

Down 3-0, the Rays tied the game with a three-run third. B.J. Upton singled home Elliot Johnson, who reached on a one-out base hit and stole second before Desmond Jennings walked and Carlos Pena popped out. Johnson was safe at the plate when New York catcher Russell Martin dropped the ball while trying to apply the tag.

"It was a play that if it's in my glove, I need to make that play," said Martin. "There is no excuse. I tried to put the tag down and it just got knocked out."

Jeff Keppinger followed with a two-run single up the middle.

The Yankees went back ahead in the fourth when Raul Ibanez stroked a two-out double and scored on a single by Eric Chavez.

But Tampa Bay countered in their half of the frame as Rodriguez followed a leadoff single by Jose Molina with a blast to left field.

The Rays tacked on two more runs in the seventh. With men on the corners, Jennings swiped home on a double steal. Ben Zobrist added an RBI single.

New York jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first. Derek Jeter and Curtis Granderson hit consecutive doubles to begin the game, producing a run. Granderson came home on a one-out single by Robinson Cano, who was thrown out at home later in the contest.

A leadoff home run by Dewayne Wise put the visitors up by three in the third.

Game Notes

Rodriguez collected three hits...Nova was dealt his first loss in seven career starts versus Tampa Bay...The Rays were 4-for-14 with runners in scoring position.