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Roundup: Ivan Nova lifts Yankees over Rays

Ray Stubblebine/Reuters

Yankees starter Ivan Nova kept Rays batters at bay most of the night.

Ivan Nova took a two-hitter into the ninth inning, Mark Teixiera and Robinson Cano homered, and the Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays for the second straight night, 4-1, Wednesday in New York.

Nick Swisher and Eric Chavez had RBI doubles in the eighth inning to help the Yankees win for the 10th time in 13 games and pass Tampa Bay in the tight AL East standings for the first time since April 23.

Tampa Bay lost for the sixth time in eight games and dropped to third place after at least holding a share of the division lead since May 27.

Nova and Alex Cobb locked in a duel until Cobb (2-2) tired in the eighth. The pair combined to keep the bases clear after Cano’s homer with one out in the fourth until Sean Rodriguez doubled with one out in the top of the eighth - 20 straight batters.

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Nova (7-2) pitched into the ninth for the first time in 45 career starts but he gave up consecutive triples to Desmond Jennings and B.J. Upton to start the inning.

Mustering just two hits against Andy Pettitte for 7 1/3 innings Tuesday and four overall, the Rays looked equally as lost against Nova - getting a leadoff single then not getting a hit until the eighth.

Indians 9, Tigers 6 - Michael Brantley hit a three-run homer after an error kept a first-inning rally going, and Johnny Damon added a two-run single and an impressive catch in left field to help host Cleveland get past Detroit.

Casey Kotchman hit a two-run shot for the Indians. Miguel Cabrera and Don Kelly hit solo homers for Detroit.

Jeanmar Gomez (4-4) allowed six runs and seven hits in five innings for Cleveland. Four relievers held Detroit to one hit the rest of the way, with Chris Perez pitching the ninth for his 19th save in 20 chances.

Giants 6, Padres 5 - Gregor Blanco homered and scored twice and Madison Bumgarner prevailed in a matchup of lefties as visiting San Francisco edged San Diego.

Bumgarner allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings, struck out four, and walked four.

Clayton Richard went 5 2/3 innings, allowing six runs - four earned - and matching his season high by allowing 10 hits.

Athletics 2, Rangers 0 - Yoenis Cespedes finished a home run shy of hitting for the cycle, drove in a run and scored and Bartolo Colon pitched eight scoreless innings, leading host Oakland past Texas.

Diamondbacks 6, Rockies 1 - Paul Goldschmidt homered and drove in three runs while extending his hitting streak to 14 games, Wade Miley pitched eight sharp innings and Arizona rolled over Colorado in Phoenix.

Braves 2, Marlins 1 - Randall Delgado pitched 6 1/3 innings and contributed his first RBI of the year, and three relievers completed a two-hitter to help visiting Atlanta hold off Miami.

Brewers 8, Cubs 0 - Zack Greinke had a season-high 12 strikeouts and host Milwaukee rediscovered its offense, shutting out Chicago. Greinke (7-2) extended his home winning streak to 15 straight decisions at Miller Park.

Blue Jays 4, White Sox 0 - Brandon Morrow pitched a two-hitter for his third shutout of the season, and Jose Bautista and Rajai Davis homered as visiting Toronto blanked Chicago.

Nationals 5, Mets 3 - Edwin Jackson pitched seven effective innings, Adam LaRoche hit a three-run homer, and host Washington downed New York.

Reds 5, Pirates 4 - Johnny Cueto allowed six hits over 7 2/3 innings, and Ryan Ludwick drove in three runs with a bases-loaded double as host Cincinnati extended its NL Central lead over Pittsburgh to three games.

Cardinals 4, Astros 3 - Allen Craig and Daniel Descalso homered to back Adam Wainwright as visiting St. Louis edged Houston.

Dodgers 6, Phillies 5 - Dee Gordon hit a go-ahead single to back Chris Capuano and visiting Los Angeles sent Philadelphia to a season-worst fifth straight loss.

Twins 4, Royals 2 - Nick Blackburn shook off a slow start and pitched five effective innings, helping visiting Minnesota top Kansas City.