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MLB: Tampa Bay 5, New York Yankees 2

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Sept. 4 (UPI) -- Alex Cobb tossed seven strong innings and Evan Longoria cracked a go-ahead homer Tuesday in Tampa Bay's 5-2 win over the New York Yankees.

Cobb (9-8) issued only four hits and a walk while striking out five over seven innings for the Rays, who clinched their three-game series and pulled to within 1 1/2 games of the Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles atop the American League East.

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Joel Peralta tossed a scoreless eighth and Fernando Rodney racked up his MLB-best 42nd save as the Rays won their fourth straight overall.

Longoria's blast in the third inning erased a 2-1 deficit and put Tampa Bay ahead for good.

Desmond Jennings and B.J. Upton added back-to-back solo shots in the fifth.

Freddie Garcia (7-6) was touched for five runs on five hits over 5 1/3 innings as New York lost for the 11th time in 12 games at Tampa Bay.

Robinson Cano belted a two-run homer for the Yankees. who surrendered sole possession of first place in the AL East after holding it for 84 days.

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