NEW YORK -- After the first four hitters of Thursday's series finale against the Rays, it looked like it would be another bullpen day for the Yankees, as starter Masahiro Tanaka allowed four consecutive hits and two runs. But Tanaka quickly put the rough start behind him to grind through six frames without any further damage. His offense was just unable to back him up.
Tanaka allowed two runs on nine hits, throwing 92 pitches through six innings, as New York's hitters were shut out through the first seven frames in a 3-1 loss in the rubber game against Tampa Bay at Yankee Stadium. The defeat snapped the Yankees' run of 12 consecutive home series wins against the Rays that dated back to September 2014.

"Obviously in the first inning, those were splits that I gave up a couple of hits on," Tanaka said through an interpreter. "Not much good movement on that, so I knew I needed to make an adjustment on the splitter. I was just really being conscious of trying to throw it low, low, low and I think that was why I was able to get out of the second inning on."
• Judge hopes to begin taking dry swings soon
One game after going 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position, the Bombers again had difficulty delivering the timely hit -- thanks in part to a strong start by Blake Snell, who allowed just two hits through five frames. With a runner on second in the eighth, Giancarlo Stanton knocked in the team's lone run on a double off the right-field wall that was originally ruled a home run before being overturned.

"Replay just told us what we did," crew chief Jerry Layne said. "It said that it was a fair ball instead of foul like we thought. We came out of the huddle. Originally [first-base umpire] Greg [Gibson] thought it was a home run and then he said, 'I think it was foul because it hit the wall in foul [territory].'"
Although it was clearly not over the fence or off the foul pole, the Yankees were still upset that Stanton had to return to second base when they thought he would've easily had a triple if the play had continued.
"Yeah, I don't know what was going on there," Stanton said. "I just knew it was fair, but to go from fair, to home run, to foul and then having us have to do a replay -- it should've been a triple. From Mallex Smith's reaction to how far it bounced off, it should've just been a triple and continued."

The Yankees threatened in the ninth against Sergio Romo after Didi Gregorius and Gleyber Torres -- who snapped an 0-for-17 stretch -- each singled and Neil Walker drew a walk to load the bases with no outs, but they were left stranded as Adam Kolarek came on to force Greg Bird to pop out in foul territory before striking out Brett Gardner and Austin Romine. The Yankees finished the game 1-for-11 with RISP.
"Yeah, disappointing," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of leaving the bases loaded in the ninth. "I mean, we had a couple chances today to -- for a while there -- get back into the game. Snell for them was, obviously, really good. Made it tough on us, but had some opportunities and when you're not scoring runs in bunches or hitting the ball out of the ballpark, you got to take advantage of those, and that one got away there for us. It's frustrating, but you deal with it and get ready for Toronto."

Prior to Thursday, New York had gone 47-6 when its starter pitched at least six innings, but the team was unable to rally late to add another victory to the win column. The loss also dropped the Yankees' record to 27-26 against American League East teams, while the first-place Red Sox have gone 43-15 within the division.
The Rays tacked on their third run of the afternoon on a squeeze bunt by Jake Bauers in the eighth inning off Player Page for David Robertson. Zach Britton and Tommy Kahnle each worked a scoreless inning in relief.
HICKS TWEAKS ANKLE
In the eighth inning, Aaron Hicks raced down the first-base line to avoid grounding into a double play. As shortstop Willy Adames threw the ball away, Hicks landed awkwardly on the bag on his right ankle, causing the outfielder to come up with a slight limp that prompted head athletic trainer Steve Donohue to check on Hicks as he walked to second base after the ball went out of play. Hicks remained in the game and scored on the double by Stanton, adding after the game that he does not think the ankle will be an issue going forward.
"It's good," Hicks said. "It feels a little weird right now, but about to go into the training room right now and get it wrapped up and get ready to play tomorrow. … I feel like I was running out there, I felt pretty good. Just a little sore right now."

HE SAID IT
"Yeah, I would say [I'm frustrated]. I'm just proud to be playing, to be completely honest. I'm proud to be putting this uniform on every day and going out and playing. It's the most games I've ever played in a season. I kind of look at it like that and it kind of keeps me going." -- Bird, on his frustration with the inconsistency of his offensive production
UP NEXT
Lance Lynn will get the start in the opener against the Blue Jays at 7:05 p.m. ET on Friday at Yankee Stadium. In three appearances (two starts) since being acquired by the Yankees, Lynn has gone 1-0 with a 0.54 ERA over 16 2/3 innings. Last time out, Lynn gave up one run -- his first allowed in pinstripes -- on five hits over five frames while recording eight strikeouts against the Rangers. He is 0-2 with a 5.54 ERA in three career appearances against Toronto. Right-hander Marcus Stroman will take the mound for the Blue Jays.