Rays 5, Yankees 2: Evan Longoria hit a two-run homer and Alex Cobb pitched seven strong innings as host Tampa Bay drew within 1 1/2 games of New York in the American League East.

B.J. Upton homered and drove in a pair and Desmond Jennings added a solo home run for the Rays (75-61), who also remain 1 1/2 games behind the Baltimore Orioles for the second wild-card spot.

Robinson Cano hit a two-run homer for the Yankees (76-59), who are now tied with the Orioles (76-59) atop the East. New York held a 10-game lead in the division as recently as July 18 and had been in sole possession of first place since June 12.

The Yankees looked like they might be breaking out of their funk early, when Cano went to the opposite field for his 29th home run in the first inning.

But Tampa Bay got to Freddy Garcia (7-6) for a run in the bottom of the first on Upton’s RBI double and took the lead in the third. Garcia issued a two-walk to Ben Zobrist in front of Longoria, who slammed a 2-2 breaking ball into the stands in left for his 10th blast and a 3-2 lead.

Cobb (9-8) settled down after the first and ended up surrendering just the two runs on four hits. The 24-year-old right-hander struck out five and walked one while retiring the last 10 batters he faced.

Jennings and Upton provided some breathing room with back-to-back solo home runs in the fifth.

Joel Peralta worked the eighth and Fernando Rodney pitched a scoreless ninth for his 42nd save.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Rays improved to 19-9 since Longoria came off the DL. … Tampa Bay has taken 11 of the last 12 meetings against New York at Tropicana Field. … Cano (hip) was questionable before the game but ended up serving as DH while Jayson Nix took over at 2B. … Yankees 1B Mark Teixeira (calf), RHP Ivan Nova (shoulder) and LHP Andy Pettitte (leg) are all working out with an eye toward returning soon. Pettitte is scheduled to throw on Wednesday. … New York OF Ichiro Suzuki struck out as a pinch hitter. He is 4-for-24 over his last eight games.