Rays 5, Yankees 0: Alex Cobb struck out eight over 7 1/3 strong innings to win his career-high sixth straight decision as Tampa Bay defeated visiting New York in the opener of a three-game series.

James Loney homered, singled and knocked in two runs as the Rays (61-61) became the fourth team in major league history to reach .500 after being at least 18 games below. Cobb (8-6) scattered six hits and walked one as Tampa Bay pulled within 5 ½ of the second American League wild-card spot and notched its 15th shutout.

Mark Teixeira and Derek Jeter each collected a pair of hits for the Yankees, who lost their fifth consecutive contest and are 4 ½ games out of the second AL wild card. Starter Brandon McCarthy (7-12) allowed four runs (two earned) on seven hits over 6 1/3 innings with seven strikeouts.

Two singles and a walk loaded the bases with none out in the first inning for the Rays before Evan Longoria and Loney each brought home a run with a fielder’s choice. The Yankees put the leadoff batter on in the second through fifth innings, but could not build anything against Cobb.

Curt Casali singled home Logan Forsythe with one out in the seventh and later scored on a groundout by Ben Zobrist to extend the lead to 4-0. Brad Boxberger struck out Jacoby Ellsbury and Teixeira with the bases loaded to end the eighth and Loney launched his sixth homer in the bottom of the frame as the Rays reached .500 for the first time since April 22.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Louisville Colonels (22, 1899), the Florida Marlins (20, 2006) and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (18, 2004) are the other three teams to reach .500 after being at least 18 below. … Cobb has limited opponents to two or fewer runs in his last seven consecutive starts while not allowing a homer in five straight. … New York 3B Chase Headley’s streak of 62 straight errorless games at the position came to an end in the seventh when he bobbled Forsythe’s ground ball to open the inning.