ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., July 20 (UPI) -- The New York Yankees beat Tampa Bay, 4-2, Tuesday as Gary Sheffield hit a go-ahead two-run homer and had three runs batted in.
Yankees pitcher Jose Contreras (8-3) worked seven innings for the win.
The Yankees took a 3-2 lead in the sixth on Sheffield's 18th homer. Derek Jeter was hit in his hand by a pitch to start the inning and Sheffield followed with a drive over the wall in left field to erase a one-run deficit.
Contreras won his third straight start and improved to 4-0 in his last five outings. He limited the Devil Rays to two runs on four hits.
The Yankees added a run in the ninth on a two-out RBI single by Tony Clark. Mariano Rivera finished up in the bottom of the ninth for his 34th save.
Tampa Bay's Victor Zambrano (9-6) fell to 0-2 in his last three starts.
