NEW YORK (AP) — Ivan Nova pitched shutout ball into the eighth inning, Curtis Granderson drove in four runs and the New York Yankees moved within one win of a playoff berth by beating the Tampa Bay Rays 5-0 on Tuesday night.
Granderson hit a three-run double and reached base four times, boosting his MVP credentials as the Yankees slowed Tampa Bay’s charge at rival Boston in the AL wild-card race. New York can secure its 16th postseason trip in 17 years with one victory in Wednesday’s day-night doubleheader against the Rays.
In fact, the AL East leaders are in with a win over Tampa Bay in any of their six remaining matchups this season. And it won’t take much more to wrap up the division title, too. The Yankees began the day with a five-game lead over second-place Boston, their largest of the season.
