Cobb, Rays Reach .500, Blank Yankees 5-0

Alex Cobb pitched neatly into the eighth inning and the Tampa Bay Rays became just the fourth team in major league history to reach .500 after falling 18 games under in the same season, beating the New York Yankees 5-0 Friday night.

The Rays won their third in a row and sent New York to its fifth straight loss.

Tampa Bay also accomplished the comeback feat in 2004 when known as the Devil Rays. The 1899 Louisville Colonels and 2006 Florida Marlins have also gotten back to the break-even point after dropping 18 under.

The Rays, now 61-61, were 24-42 on June 10. They are trying to become the first club to finish with a winning record after being so far under.

Cobb (8-6) gave up six hits in 7 1-3 innings, striking out eight and walking one. He improved 4-0 in six career home starts against the Yankees.

After giving up a single to Derek Jeter that loaded the bases, Brad Boxberger struck Jacoby Ellsbury and Mark Teixeira.

Tampa Bay has held its opponents to three runs or less in a club-record 11 consecutive games.

Brandon McCarthy (4-2) gave up four runs and seven hits over 6 1-3 innings. New York has scored a total of seven runs during its current skid, which includes a pair of shutouts.

The Rays took a 2-0 lead in the first on RBI grounders by Evan Longoria and James Loney.

Loney homered in the eighth when Esmil Rogers tried to quick pitch him.

Curt Casali singled home a run and Ben Zobrist hit the Rays' third RBI grounder of the game during the seventh as Tampa Bay took a 4-0 lead.