St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) – Pinch-hitter Jorge Posada homered to center leading off the 10th inning, and the Yankees used a couple of spectacular defensive plays in the final two frames to beat Tampa Bay, 8-7, and move back into first place in the AL East.
Curtis Granderson saved an extra-base hit with a great diving catch to end the bottom of the ninth, and Greg Golson threw Carl Crawford out at third base to finish the contest.
One night after Reid Brignac blasted the winning home run in the 11th inning of a 1-0 Tampa Bay win, the Yankees hit three long balls and climbed into the division lead by a half-game over the Rays.
Posada, who had been held hitless since suffering a mild concussion during a September 7 game against Baltimore, sent a 2-0 pitch from Dan Wheeler (2-3) over the wall in center field. The homer, Posada’s 18th of the season, hit off an overhang of a restaurant.
Crawford singled off Mariano Rivera leading off the bottom of the 10th and then stole second just after Evan Longoria flied out to the warning track in center. Matt Joyce sent a fly ball tight to the line in right, and Golson made the grab. Crawford attempted to tag to third, but was thrown out on a perfect throw from Golson to end the game.
Robinson Cano homered and finished with three RBI, while Alex Rodriguez went deep and knocked in two runs for the Yankees, who snapped a season-high four- game skid.