D-Rays Bash Pettite, Yanks

Carlos Pena slammed a three-run home run as Tampa Bay routed New York, 8-2, in the rubber match of a three-game set at Yankee Stadium. Dioner Navarro, Josh Wilson and Akinori Iwamura also all homered for the Devil Rays, who won for the fifth time in six games. Jason Hammel (2-4) allowed just one run on five hits in five solid innings to earn the win. The right-hander fanned seven and did not walk a batter. Melky Cabrera and Bobby Abreu each drove in a run for the Yankees, who fell six games behind Boston in the AL East but remained two games in front of Seattle in the wild card race. Andy Pettitte (12-8) surrendered five runs on 11 hits in 6 1/3 innings to lose for the first time in seven starts and for the first time in his last 13 decisions against Tampa Bay. With the game evened at one, the Rays edged in front during the sixth. Pettitte walked Carl Crawford and Pena to start the inning. Crawford then swiped third and crossed the plate on B.J. Uptons sacrifice fly to right. Consecutive singles by Delmon Young and Brendan Harris then loaded the bases but Pettitte snuck out of trouble by fanning Jonny Gomes and inducing Wilson to ground out. Tampa Bay took control in the seventh. Navarro led off the frame with a single and, a batter later, went to second on Crawfords base hit. Pena then turned on a hanging curve ball by Pettitte and crushed the ball over the wall in right for his 34th homer of the season. The Yankees got a run back in the home half when Johnny Damon drew a one-out walk and scored on Abreus triple into the gap in left-center off Grant Balfour. But, the Devil Rays put things away with three more runs in the eighth. Wilson slapped a two-out, solo homer into the stands in left off Edwar Ramirez. Navarro kept things going with a walk and Iwamura followed with a two-run shot to give Tampa Bay a commanding 8-2 advantage. Tampa Bay took an early 1-0 lead when Navarro deposited his seventh homer of the year over the wall in left. The Yankees finally broke through to even things in the fifth. Hammel plunked Andy Phillips on the right hand and the first baseman came around to score when Cabrera ripped a double to the right field corner. Game Notes Phillips left the game after scoring in the fifth inning with a contusion on his right wrist. Wilson Betemit came on to replace Phillips at first in the top of the sixth. Phillips was taken to a local hospital to undergo a precautionary MRI and CT scam ..Penas homer tied Aubrey Huff (2003) and Jose Canseco (1999) for the franchise single season record with 34...Pettitte is still a gaudy 13-2 lifetime against Tampa Bay. His last loss against the Devil Rays was September 16, 1998.