Yankees fail to gain on Jays, lose 6-3 to Rays

Nick Franklin hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth inning and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the AL wild-card leading New York Yankees 6-3 on Tuesday night.

Hobbled Alex Rodriguez and Greg Bird homered for the Yankees, who remain three games behind AL East-leading Toronto, which lost 3-2 at Atlanta.

Franklin, who entered when shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera left after four innings with a left knee strain, put the Rays up 4-3 on his homer off Nick Rumbelow (1-1). J.P. Arencibia made it 6-3 on a two-run single in the eighth.

Rodriguez hit his 32nd homer this season and 686th of his career off Jake Odorizzi (8-8) in the first hours after the team learned he is playing with a bruised left knee. Rodriguez moved past Craig Biggio into sole possession of 21st place all-time with his 3,061st hit.

Rodriguez had an MRI earlier Tuesday and was also examined by team orthopedist Daniel Murphy. It is thought that Rodriguez was hurt sliding in Sunday's game against Toronto.

Odorizzi allowed three runs and three hits in six innings. Brandon Gomes pitched the ninth for his first save, getting a fly ball from Brett Gardner with runners on second and third and two outs.

Bird gave the Yankees a 3-2 lead on a two-run homer in the fourth that came on the 10th pitch of the at-bat.

Logan Forsythe had an RBI single in the first and Tampa Bay went ahead 2-1 when Mikie Mahtook doubled, stole third and scored on catcher Brian McCann's throwing error in the second.

Tampa Bay center fielder Kevin Kiermaier took away a potential game-tying extra-base hit from Gardner with a running catch on the warning track to end the seventh.

Rodriguez nearly had his second opposite-field homer of the game in the eighth, but his leadoff drive was caught on the warning track.

Adam Warren gave up two runs and six hits over four innings in a spot start for the Yankees.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Yankees: Manager Joe Girardi said RHP Nathan Eovaldi remains shut down from throwing.

Rays: X-rays on SS Asdrubal Cabrera were negative. ... Reliever Jake McGee (left knee) could throw a simulated game Thursday.

HEAVY HITTERS

Boxing legend Jake LaMotta watched part of batting practice on the field. LaMotta, 93, also took part in a program at the Ted Williams Museum, which is located at Tropicana Field.

UP NEXT

Yankees: Rookie RHP Luis Severino (3-3) looks to bounce back Wednesday night after allowing a career-high six earned runs over 2 1-3 innings in Friday's 11-5 loss to Toronto.

Rays: RHP Chris Archer (12-11), Wednesday night's starter, is 5-1 against the Yankees. The lone loss came in his last start against them on Sept 6.