New York Yankees win third straight with 3-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays

The New York Yankees defeated the Tampa Bay Rays by the score of 3-1 on Tuesday afternoon. The game took place Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte, Florida. Ivan Nova started for the Yankees and pitched well once again. Thomas Neal had two hits to lead the Yankees offense, Francisco Cervelli threw two guys out on the bases. 
Nova pitched four innings giving up four hits and no runs with no walks and a couple of strikeouts. Brett Marshall picked up the win pitching 3 2/3 innings giving up two hits and an unearned run with a walk and three strikeouts, Josh Spence pitched to one batter and retired him and Matt Tracy picked up the save pitching an inning giving up a hit and striking out one.

Gil Velazquez had a hit, Ronnier Mustelier had a hit and Juan Rivera had a hit. Cervelli had a hit, Walter Ibarra had a hit and Neal had two hits. Slade Heathcott had an RBI, Bobby Wilson had a hit and two RBI and the Yankees were 1-5 with runners in scoring position and they left four men on base. Neal had a stolen base, Nunez, Almonte and Mustelier each committed an error.

Alex Cobb pitched five innings giving up two hits and no runs with no walks and six strikeouts. Cesar Ramos pitched a perfect inning with a strikeout, Brandon Gomes pitched a perfect inning with a strikeout and Dane De La Rosa pitched an inning giving up five hits and three runs with one of them being earned and striking out one. He picked up the loss and Will Inman pitched an inning giving up a hit.

Mike Fontenot had a hit and an RBI, Kelly Johnson had a hit and Jason Bourgeois had a hit. Leslie Anderson had a hit, Cole Figueroa had a hit and Sean Rodriguez had a hit. Will Myers had a hit, Shelly Duncan drew a walk and Figueroa hit a double. Tampa Bay was 1-11 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base. Lee committed an error and Vogt had an outfield assist.

The runs in this game were all scored in the eighth inning. The Yankees scored three on a Heathcott force out and error and a Wilson two run single. Tampa Bay scored their run on a Fontenot sacrifice fly.

The Yankees are now 6-11 in the spring and the Rays record dropped to 11-7. The Yankees will host the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night and Tampa Bay will have the day off.