James Loney's two-run single in the top of the first held up for the duration of the game as the Tampa Bay Rays (43-41) won big, 8-1, over the New York Yankees (44-38) Sunday afternoon in Yankee Stadium. The win snaps a seven-game losing streak and pulls the Rays to within two games of the A.L. East-leading Yankees with only the Baltimore Orioles in between.

Loney's single into right field brought home David DeJesus and Evan Longoria with what ended up the game-winning runs. The Rays, though, continued to score with a sacrifice fly from catcher Curt Casali in the second, and a run-scoring throwing error on a bunt from Asdrubal Cabrera in the third. Cabrera bunted back to the box. Yankee pitcher Ivan Nova tried to cut down Casali at third but threw it into left field, allowing Casali to score. 

The Rays tacked on four more runs in the top of the eighth off Bryan Mitchell and Chris Capuano. Logan Forsythe singled home two, Casali drew a bases-loaded walk, and Cabrera brought home the final run with a sacrifice fly. By the end of the inning, the Rays had their 8-1 lead, which turned out the final score.

The Yankees' lone run came on Alex Rodriguez's solo home run (16) in the bottom of the sixth. Rodriguez is hitting .284/.388/.504 with 16 HR and 46 RBI, making him a very strong candidate for both the American League All-Star team and the A.L. Comeback Player of the Year.

Erasmo Ramirez (W: 7-3, 3.80) pitched six very strong innings, allowing only one earned run on three hits, one of them A-Rod's home run. He walked three and struck out three. The bullpen was unscored-upon for the final three innings. 

Nova (L: 1-2, 2-65) had his first rough outing since returning from Tommy John surgery. He allowed four runs, three earned, on six hits while walking three and striking out one in his five innings of work. 

The Yankees have Monday off and then play their final week before the All-Star break by hosting the Oakland Athletics for three beginning Tuesday and visiting the Boston Red Sox for the weekend. Tampa Bay, meanwhile, travels to the Midwest to face the Kansas City Royals for four beginning Monday and hosting the Houston Astros heading into the break.