MLB

LONGORIA, CRAWFORD POWER RAYS TO WIN OVER YANKEES

Carl Crawford and Evan Longoria hit back-to-back homers off Mariano Rivera in the ninth inning, and the surging Rays handed the struggling New York Yankees their fifth consecutive loss, 8-6 on Thursday night.

Longoria had two of Tampa Bay’s six homers, and he and Crawford, who connected for the go-ahead hit with one out in the ninth, had the first consecutive home runs off Rivera (0-1) in his career, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Jason Bartlett, Ben Zobrist and Carlos Pena also went deep for Tampa Bay, which won its third straight for the first time this season.

Johnny Damon hit a tying, two-run homer for New York in the eighth.