Quantrill, Rivera hold off Devil Rays

NEW YORK -- Paul Quantrill and Mariano Rivera made sure the New York Yankees held off Tampa Bay for the second straight night.

Quantrill relieved Javier Vazquez with a two-ball count and the bases loaded in the sixth inning and escaped the jam, and New York beat the Devil Rays, 5-4, last night at Yankee Stadium.

Rivera gave up a run in the ninth, then retired Rocco Baldelli on a foul popup with the bases loaded to end it.

Jorge Posada hit a go-ahead, two-run single for the Yankees, who have won two straight against the Devil Rays after losing five of six to the New York Mets and Detroit.

Tampa Bay, which has lost seven of 10 to the Yankees this year, dropped to 4-6 in July after going 20-6 in June.

A day after he was selected for his first All-Star game, Vazquez (10-5) fell behind, 3-1, on Jose Cruz Jr.'s two-run homer in the first and Robert Fick's solo shot in the fourth. But Posada singled to cap a three-run fifth that put New York ahead, 4-3.

Vazquez opened the sixth by fanning Baldelli, giving him a season-high nine strikeouts, but left after walking the bases loaded with two outs.

Quantrill relieved with a 2-0 count on Toby Hall, who then took a strike and fouled off two pitches. After taking ball three to work the count full, Hall fouled off three pitches before flying to center.

In Tampa Bay's 7-1 loss Thursday, Hall batted with the bases loaded and the Devil Rays down a run in the fourth and also hit an inning-ending flyout.

Vazquez allowed four hits in 5 2/3 innings, winning for the seventh time in eight decisions, and matched his season high with five walks. No New York starter has pitched seven innings since Vazquez beat Baltimore, 5-2, June 24.

Tom Gordon struck out two of three batters in the eighth. After Kenny Lofton hit an RBI single in the bottom half off Trever Miller for his third hit, Rivera finished for his 31st save in 32 chances.

The righthander allowed an RBI single to pinch-hitter and former Yankee Tino Martinez, cutting it to 5-4.

Devil Rays manager Lou Piniella was ejected in the eighth by plate umpire Dan Iassogna, apparently for arguing after a pitch to Fick was called a strike.

John Halama, who allowed seven hits, left after Lofton's leadoff infield single in the fifth and Bernie Williams' walk. Piniella treated it like the eighth inning, going to his bullpen and bringing in Jesus Colome (2-2).

Derek Jeter, who singled in a run in the third, sacrificed the runners over with a bunt down the first-base line and Gary Sheffield walked, loading the bases.

Alex Rodriguez popped to short right field, dropping him to 0 for 8 with the bases loaded this season. Lance Carter came in to face Jason Giambi and forced in a run with a walk on a 3-2 pitch before giving up the single to Posada.