Sport News : Rays pound Yankees to gain in playoff chase

B.J. Upton, Johnny Damon and Ben Zobrist slugged home runs and drove in three runs each to pace Tampa Bay's 17-hit assault on six New York pitchers.

The visiting Rays (86-70) had scored a total of four runs on Tuesday and Wednesday in losing the first three of a four-game series against the 'Bronx Bombers' but jumped out to a 13-0 lead after five innings on Thursday.

The Rays' win closed the gap on AL wild card leaders Boston to two games. The Red Sox did not play on Thursday.

Tampa Bay rookie Matt Moore (1-0) made an impressive debut as a starting pitcher, the highly-touted left-hander striking out 11 batters over five scoreless innings, giving up four hits and a walk.

"We had to get a win tonight," said the 22-year-old Moore.

"Hopefully, the energy that we ha d tonight with as many runs and hits hat we had, hopefully we can carry that over to the Trop (home park Tropicana Field).

"I definitely wanted to hang as many goose eggs as I could tonight," the lefty added about his string of scoreless frames. "That run support made it a lot easier."

Yankees starter Bartolo Colon (8-10) had a less enjoyable outing and was blasted for seven runs in three innings.

The Yankees (96-61), who clinched the AL East on Wednesday with their doubleheader win over the Rays, posted all of their runs from the sixth inning on against a parade of Rays relievers.

Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon praised the poise and talent of his young pitcher, who will head to the bullpen for the last week of the regular season.

"He attacked them. I liked the strike throwing," Maddon said ab out Moore. "His composure, Yankee Stadium, the situation, throwing strikes. All those things speak to the make-up of Matt Moore."

Maddon said the Rays' goal over their final six games, three this weekend in Toronto and three at home against the Yankees, was simple: win them all.

"We've got to run the table," Maddon said. "I feel very confident about it."