NEW YORK, June 21 (UPI) -- Zoilo Almonte had a home run among three hits in his first major league start Friday, helping boost the New York Yankees past Tampa Bay 6-2.
Almonte was called up from Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes Barre earlier this week and had appeared as a pinch-hitter in two games before getting the start in left field against the Rays.
He went 3-for-4 and his sixth-inning solo homer gave the Yankees a 5-2 lead.
New York went in front for good with two runs in the fourth, one of them coming in on a double play grounder by Jayson Nix and another on David Adams' infield single.
David Phelps (5-4) gave up eight hits over 5 2/3 innings, but limited the Rays to two runs to pick up the win. The Yankees snapped a two-game skid and picked up their 40th victory of the season.
The loss was charged to Roberto Hernandez (4-8), who gave up five runs on nine hits in seven innings.
