The Rays gave the Yankees and Mariano Rivera a devil of a time Thursday night. They hit six home runs in the game, two in consecutive at bats by Crawford and Longoria in the top of the ninth to give the Rays an 8-6 victory. The Yankees fought back to tie the game at six on a two-run shot by Johnny Damon in the 8th. According to Elias, it’s the first time players went back to back against Rivera. It’s only the second time he’s allowed two home runs in a relief appearance, the last being on 7/18/1998. (He allowed two home runs twice as a starter in 1995.)

Nothing seems to be going right for the Yankees right now. They appear to be in the games, but either they can’t get the big hit, or a pitcher gives up the big hit.

The Rays slide past the Yankees into third place in the AL East by percentage points.