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Scott helps Rays top Yankees

Apr 8, 2012 - 5:42 AM St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - Luke Scott went 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored, as the Tampa Bay Rays held off the New York Yankees, 8-6, in the middle contest of a three-game set.

Matt Joyce hit a solo homer and knocked in three runs for the Rays, who rallied past New York, 7-6, in the opener on Friday. Desmond Jennings and Carlos Pena each added an RBI and run scored.

David Price (1-0) gave up two runs on five hits in 6 1/3 innings to pick up the win. Price, who also fanned five and walked four, went 12-13 with a 3.49 ERA last season.

"Our lineup looks very solid right now," Price said. "It's fun to watch and hopefully we can continue to do this."

Nick Swisher hit a three-run homer in the ninth for the Yankees. Andruw Jones, Eduardo Nunez and Raul Ibanez added an RBI apiece.

Hiroki Kuroda (0-1) allowed six runs -- four earned -- on eight hits over 5 2/3 frames in his Yankees debut. The Japanese right-hander went 13-16 with a 3.07 ERA for the Dodgers last year.

"He gave up four [earned] runs in six innings and that's giving your club a chance to win," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.

Down by six, New York made things interesting in the ninth. Josh Lueke, who pitched a scoreless eighth, gave up a leadoff triple to Curtis Granderson. Ibanez came on as a pinch-hitter and lofted a sacrifice fly to center. After Russell Martin walked and pinch-hitter Eric Chavez singled, Joel Peralta came in from the bullpen.

Peralta got Derek Jeter swinging, but Swisher followed with a three-run blast to right. Jake McGee then took over on the mound and walked Robinson Cano. Fernando Rodney was called upon and he got Alex Rodriguez to ground out.

The Rays put four runs on the board over the first three frames.

In the bottom of the first inning, Jennings reached base on shortstop Nunez's fielding error. Following two outs, Joyce and Ben Zobrist walked to load the bases. Scott then recorded his first hit in a Tampa Bay uniform, a two-run single up the middle.

Pena's RBI single in the second and Joyce's solo homer to right during the Rays' next at-bat made it 4-0.

New York finally got on the board in the fourth. Granderson hit a two- out single, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on Jones' single to left. With Martin at the plate, catcher Jose Lobaton tried to pick off Jones at first. Pena was not ready for the errant throw and Jones moved to third. Martin then walked to put runners on the corners and Nunez followed with an RBI single to left-center field, cutting the gap to 4-2.

But the Rays got both runs back in the sixth. Zobrist led off with a double and scored on Scott's double to right. Reid Brignac walked with two outs and Jennings added an RBI single to right.

Tampa Bay tacked on two more runs in the seventh. After Clay Rapada walked Pena, Longoria seemed to hit a homer over the wall in right. Upon further review, it was determined a fan reached over the wall. Longoria was awarded a double and Joyce followed with two-run single to left.

Game Notes

Granderson and Jeter each had two hits for the Yankees, who went 3-for-8 with runners in scoring position...Rodney picked up his first save as a member of the Rays...Tampa Bay went 5-for-14 with RISP...Rapada gave up two runs on two hits in his Yankees debut.