NY Yankees 4, Tampa Bay 2

Robinson Cano delivered a go-ahead two-run double in the eighth inning as the New York Yankees clinched a playoff spot with a 4-2 victory over the visiting Tampa Bay Rays in the opener of a day-night doubleheader Wednesday.

Cano's bullet to deep center off J.P. Howell put New York in the postseason for the 16th time in 17 years and gave the Yankees a chance to possibly clinch the AL East title with a win over the Rays coupled with a Boston loss Wednesday night.

With scheduled starter Phil Hughes scratched due to back spasms, New York used eight pitchers to deliver another blow to the wild-card hopes of Tampa Bay, which fell 2 1/2 games behind the Red Sox.

Luis Ayala (2-2) worked two-thirds of an inning for the win. Mariano Rivera converted his 15th consecutive save and 44th of the season to boost his major league career-leading total to 603.

Eduardo Nunez tied it at 2-2 in the eighth with a line-drive homer off James Shields that barely cleared the wall in left field. It was his fifth homer of the season and first since Aug. 7.

Shields (15-12) lost for the 11th time in 15 career decisions against the Yankees, giving up all four runs on six hits in 7 1/3 innings.

New York spot starter Hector Noesi lasted 2 2/3 innings, allowing both runs on Desmond Jennings' two-run homer in the third inning.

• NY Yankees will play their next game at home against Tampa Bay. The Yankees have a W/L % of .617 after a win and .600 after a loss.
• Tampa Bay will play their next game on the road against NY Yankees. The Rays have a W/L % of .535 after a win and .574 after a loss.