NEW YORK -- The New York Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday when Brian McCann hit a walk-off three-run homer to cap a four-run 12th inning and a 7-5 win. It was the Yankees' first walk-off win of the season; their last one was Derek Jeter's final game at the stadium.
12th try: Brett Gardner led off with a walk against righty Steve Geltz in the 12th, putting the tying run at the plate for Chase Headley. Headley struck out.
Alex Rodriguez then beat the shift by hitting a weak grounder that found the hole where the second baseman should've been. With runners at the corners, Mark Teixeira knocked an RBI single to right to cut the Rays' lead to one. Then McCann went deep.
Go-ahead runs: In the top of the 12th, the Rays took the lead. Adam Warren walked the leadoff man. After a sacrifice bunt, Chasen Shreve entered and walked Asdrubal Cabera. Shreve then allowed Kevin Kiermaier and Rene Rivera to knock RBI singles to give the Rays a two-run lead.
Shreve allowed his first run in 16 1/3 innings.
Tex message: Down three runs after being dominated by Rays ace Chris Archer, the Yankees got into Tampa's bullpen and did damage. Against righty Kevin Jepsen, Headley and Rodriguez picked up one-out singles before Teixeira launched a three-run homer to tie the score in the eighth. It was Teixeira's 20th home run.
Tanaka's night: This might be what Tanaka is: Very good, but not an ace. He has solid but not spectacular starts. That's what Friday night was against the Rays.
Tanaka went six innings, allowed three runs (all earned) on six hits. He struck out five and walked none. He threw 96 pitches and 69 were strikes.
Tanaka's fastball was at 93-94 mph early and settled in at 91-92. He hit 95 once.
Improvement: Tanaka had been awful his last two outings, allowing 13 runs (11 earned) in 10 innings.
Tough start: Tanaka did not start well at all. He allowed the first three batters to reach base. Grady Sizemore led off with a double. After a Joey Butler walk, Evan Longoria drove home Sizemore with a double. Next, James Loney's sac fly brought home Butler.
Tanaka did well to leave a runner at third. Still, it was not the beginning he, nor the Yankees, wanted considering his recent struggles.
Arch enemy: Archer threw 6 2/3 innings of scoreless ball, but the Rays need more from him becasue the bullpen let him down.
Replay: Joe Girardi used a nifty replay to erase Evan Longoria's one-out double in the 11th. Longoria was called safe but lifted his foot just the slightest as Jose Pirela held the tag. With assistant to baseball operations Brett Weber giving Girardi the thumbs up, the manager challenged and won.
It probably wasn't the spirit of the rule, but it worked.
Ninth try: Headley ended the bottom of the ninth by leaving two men on with a 5-3 double play against lefty Xavier Cedeno.
Defense: The Rays can play some D. After Didi Gregorius nailed a one-out double, Stephen Drew sent a shot to deep center. In front of the 408-foot sign, Kevin Kiemaier made a fine leaping catch.
On deck: The Yankees and Rays play at 1 p.m. Saturday -- the Fourth of July. Michael Pineda (8-5, 4.08) will face Nathan Karns (4-4, 3.26).