ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., May 17 (UPI) -- Alex Rodriguez homered twice and Brett Gardner added three hits for New York Tuesday and the Yankees broke a six-game skid with a 6-2 win over Tampa Bay.
Rodriguez connected for solo homers in the fourth and sixth innings and Gardner added an RBI and two runs scored for the Yanks, who split a two-game series at Tropicana Field.
Ivan Nova (4-3) earned a victory for the third time in four starts, holding the Rays to one run on four hits over 5 1/3 innings while walking two and striking out four.
Rays starter James Shields (4-2) saw his personal four-game winning streak snapped. He was tagged for four runs (three earned), surrendering eight hits and one walk while striking out nine.
Elliot Johnson homered and Johnny Damon went 3-for-5 for first-place Tampa Bay.
