by Steve Carney

A fielding miscue by Elliot Johnson in the seventh broke a 4-4 tie, and allowed the New York Yankees to salvage the finale of this three-game series with a 6-4 decision

Tampa Bay got off to a great start, as Sam Fuld led off with a base hit off Hiroki Kuroda, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Desmond Jennings.  After Ben Zobrist struck out, Evan Longoria singled to right to bring in Fuld for the first run of the ballgame.

The score remained 1-0 until New York busted out for three runs in the fourth inning.  A popup by Derek Jeter that landed for a hit started the frame, and after Nick Swisher flew out, Robinson Cano drew a walk.  Alex Rodriguez then doubled in Jeter to tie the game, and Russell Martin's ground-rule double to right brought in Cano and Rodriguez to make it 3-1.

The Rays tied the game in the fifth, as Fuld walked with two out, and Jennings followed with a single.  Zobrist then brought both runners in with a triple to the right-centerfield gap.

Martin untied the game again in the top of the sixth with a solo homer off Moore, but Luke Scott matched him in the bottom of the inning to make it 4-4.

New York took the lead for good in the top of the seventh, as Andruw Jones and Steve Pearce each singled to start the inning. Jayson Nix then sacrificed pinch-runner Ichiro Suzuki and Pearce each up a base, prompting manager Joe Maddon to bring in Kyle Farnsworth.  Derek Jeter grounded back to a drawn in Johnson, but he double-clutched and threw the ball away, allowing both runners to score for a 6-4 lead.

Tampa Bay has Thursday off, and will welcome in the Texas Rangers for a three-game set starting Friday.