Yankees Top Archer, Rays to Stay 3.0 Back

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Prized rookie Luis Severino rebounded from his worst start, Greg Bird homered and drove in two runs, and the New York Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 on Wednesday night to keep pace in the AL playoff race.

The second-place Yankees, who lead the wild-card chase, took two of three from Tampa Bay and stayed three games behind Toronto in the AL East.

Severino (4-3) allowed one run and six hits in 5 2-3 innings. The right-hander gave up a career-high six earned runs over 2 1-3 innings in an 11-5 loss Friday to Toronto.

After Bird had a second-inning RBI double, Chase Headley put the Yankees up 2-0 with a run-scoring single in the sixth. Bird, also a rookie, made it 3-1 on his ninth-inning shot.

Justin Wilson, Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller, who pitched the ninth for his 34th save, combined for 3 1-3 scoreless innings for New York.