Bronx, NY (My Sportsbook) - James Shields tossed eight shutout innings, and the Tampa Bay Rays routed the New York Yankees, 7-1, in the opening contest of a day-night doubleheader from Yankee Stadium.

Shields (13-8) scattered five hits, fanned six, and walked none to pick up the win for Tampa, which has won three straight following a four-game slide.

"I needed to go deep in to the game and help our bullpen out for the second game," said Shields. "Good to end on a good note. It's hard to come in here and play this team. It was a total team effort."

Justin Ruggiano went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI, and scored twice for the Rays, who led the Boston Red Sox by two games in the AL East entering play Saturday. The Red Sox are playing a doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays in Boston on Saturday.

The game marked the return of rookie third baseman Evan Longoria to the starting lineup for the Rays. The 22-year-old Longoria was hit on his right wrist by a pitch by Seattle Mariners closer J.J. Putz on August 7, fracturing the wrist. The All-Star third baseman went on the disabled list on August 11, and was activated on Sunday.

Mike Mussina (17-9) was roughed up for five runs on eight hits in five frames, with seven strikeouts and two walks. Bobby Abreu's homer in the ninth provided all the offense for New York, which has dropped six of eight to tumble out of the playoff chase.

Derek Jeter went 3-for-4 for the Yankees, who played without third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who was a late scratch with a stiff neck. Cody Ransom started in his place.

Ruggiano's two-run double to right with two outs in the second got the Rays on the board, and Tampa added three more runs in the fifth. Ruggiano led off the frame with a single, stole second, and scored on Jason Bartlett's single to right.

Longoria singled in two more runs later in frame, and Tampa took a 5-0 lead against Mussina and the Yankees. Shields, meanwhile, dominated the New York lineup, allowing only two singles to Jeter through five innings.

Michel Hernandez led off the sixth against Dan Giese with a single, and Ruggiano followed with another double. Ben Zobrist's sac fly plated Hernandez, and a throwing error by Jason Giambi on a Carlos Pena grounder allowed Ruggiano to score for a 7-0 Rays lead.

"We gave them extra outs today and that's the difference in the game. We gave them two or three extra outs and they capitalized on them," said Yankees manager Joe Girardi. "Shields is a pretty tough pitcher. We didn't swing the bat well until the ninth inning. Derek swung the bat well. We had a couple of other hits, but we just didn't swing the bats."

Jeter singled again in the sixth, and Abreu doubled, but Xavier Nady's groundout ended the threat. Abreu's shot in the ninth off Trever Miller kept the Yankees from being blanked.

Game Notes

Prior to the game, the Yankees recalled pitchers Phil Hughes and David Robertson from Triple-A Scranton. Hughes began 2008 in the Yankees' rotation but faltered to an 0-4 record in six starts with a 9.00 earned run average. He was also sidelined by a fractured rib late in April. Robertson was 3-0 with a 6.31 ERA in 21 appearances, all in relief, after a June 28 recall to the big club. He was sent down to Triple-A Scranton on August 28...In the fourth inning Mussina struck out Hernandez for his 2,799th career strikeout, passing Cy Young for 19th place on the all-time list.