NEW YORK, May 9 (UPI) -- Matt Joyce finished off a four-run ninth inning with a three-run homer Wednesday, rallying Tampa Bay to a 4-1 win over the New York Yankees.
The Yankees felt the recent loss of veteran closer Mariano Rivera in a big way, wasting eight innings of shutout pitching from starter David Phelps and three relievers.
Rivera was lost for the season last week when he suffered a torn knee ligament while running down fly balls during batting practice.
David Robertson and Rafael Soriano are the candidates to become New York's closer and Soriano worked the eighth inning Wednesday.
Robertson, who picked up his first save of the year on Tuesday against the Rays despite walking two in the ninth inning, was called on again and failed to produce.
Sean Rodriguez opened the ninth with a single and moved to third on a base hit by Brandon Allen. A walk to Ben Zobrist loaded the bases and Robertson (0-1) then struck out Carlos Pena.
B.J. Upton, however, lifted a sacrifice fly to right that tied it up and Joyce followed by hitting a 1-2 pitch over the wall in right.
The win went to Fernando Rodney (2-0), who worked the eighth and ninth innings in relief of Jeff Niemann.
Niemann allowed only a first-inning run on six hits with five strikeouts in seven frames.
The Rays ended a three-game losing streak.
