J.A. Happ shines for New York Yankees again in 4-1 win over Tampa Bay Rays

This is exactly what the New York Yankees were hoping for when they added J.A. Happ. The veteran left-hander permitted just one soft single in seven shutout innings to win his third start in a row, pitching the Yankees past the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 on Tuesday night. Austin Romine hit a two-run homer as New York (75-44) equaled its season high at 31 games above .500 and improved to 7-2 since getting swept in four games at Boston. Still, the AL wild-card leaders remained 10 games behind the runaway Red Sox in the AL East despite having the second-best record in the majors. Aaron Hicks had an early RBI single for the Yankees, who won for the 14th time in 17 home games against Tampa Bay over the past two seasons. Miguel Andujar and slumping Greg Bird contributed consecutive two-out doubles in the eighth to make it 4-1. Happ (13-6) struck out four and walked four, throwing 71 of 106 pitches for strikes. He was helped by a double play and a caught stealing, but the only hit off him was a flyball by C.J. Cron that fell in front of left fielder Brett Gardner in the fourth. Happ retired Carlos Gomez on a line drive to first base with two on to end the inning and was never threatened after that.