Rodon tosses eight shutout innings as Yankees top Rays 2-0 in opener

Cody Bellinger's two-run homer backed eight scoreless frames from Carlos Rodon as New York beat Tampa Bay in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader.

Carlos Rodon delivered eight shutout innings and Cody Bellinger hit a two-run homer as the New York Yankees defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 2-0 in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader at Yankee Stadium.

Rodon allowed just three singles while striking out eight, facing the minimum through the first 19 batters. Double plays helped his cause, including an unusual one in which Bellinger caught a line drive in left and threw to first to retire Victor Mesa Jr., who had broken off the bag. The left-hander lowered his season ERA to 2.67 and is 3-0 with a 1.42 ERA across four September starts.

Rays starter Nick Martinez retired the first nine hitters he faced, but Ben Rice led off the fourth with a double and Bellinger followed with a 382-foot two-run homer to right. Those were the only runs New York needed.

The Yankees managed just two runs but never got another baserunner after the fifth inning. David Bednar closed it out with a save in the ninth.

The win moved New York within 5.0 games of AL East-leading Tampa Bay and delayed the Rays from clinching the division. The nightcap features Yankees lefty Max Fried (5-4, 2.63 ERA) against Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen (15-5, 2.72 ERA) at 7:05 p.m.