The New York Yankees fell, 7-4, Tuesday night in the second game of their three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. They blew a 3-0 lead after losing a 2-0 lead Monday. Ivan Nova (9-3) struggled, giving up six runs, three earned, off seven hits and three walks in six innings. He struck out five, but also gave up a two-run home run to Sean Rodriguez in the the fourth inning to give the Rays a 5-4 lead.
Nova gave up a single to Jose Molina to lead off the inning, setting up Rodriguez for what would prove to be the game-winning at-bat.
The Yankees peppered James Shields (8-5) with 10 hits and four earned runs before he left the mound after seven innings. DeWayne Wise put New York up 3-0 with a solo home run in the third. The Rays tied the game in the the bottom of the inning, however, adding two runs on a Jeff Keppinger single.
Eric Chavez got the lead back for the Yankees with a single to score Raul Ibanez in the fourth inning. The 4-3 lead was short lived, however, thanks to Rodriguez.
The Rays added another run off the Yankees' newly-acquired reliever, Chad Qualls. The former member of the Philadelphia Phillies gave up three hits in 1 2/3 innings pitched. The Rays' Fernando Rodney earned his 24th save of the season, striking out two in the ninth inning.
The Yankees committed three errors on the night, two credited to catcher Russell Martin, and allowed five stolen bases.
Game 3 of the series is set for 3:10 p.m. ET on Wednesday. The Yankees will look to snap a nine-game losing streak at Tropicana Field. David Phelps (1-3, 3.16 ERA) will take on the Rays' David Price (11-4, 2.92) on the mound
.--See Pinstripe Alley for more discussion and analysis of the Yankees.