NEW YORK -- The Cleveland Indians have spent portions of this season discussing how Josh Tomlin is progressing from shoulder surgery.

On Thursday night, the conversation topics were about how Tomlin expanded the strike zone and how a reconfigured outfield defense made an impact.

Tomlin pitched seven innings for his first win as a starting pitcher in more than a year and center fielder Abraham Almonte and right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall made highlight-reel catches, helping the Indians hold on for a 3-2 victory over the New York Yankees.

"I think for the most part it was moving to expand the zone to lefties," said Tomlin, who got 23 called strikes. "They had in there eight lefties and one righty. Expanding the zone in to lefties and being able to spot a four-seam down and away. I don't know what it looks like to them, but it probably looks like it's a foot off the plate if you expand in enough."

In Tomlin's second start since having right shoulder surgery in March, his lone mistake was a 0-1 breaking ball that led to a home run by designated hitter Alex Rodriguez in the fourth inning. Tomlin also gave up a double to third baseman Chase Headley in the third but allowed just two other baserunners.

"It's great playing behind Tomlin every time," Chisenhall said. "You know what you're going to get. He's going to battle. He's going to throw strikes. He's going to be competitive and keep you in the ballgame and tonight he gave us seven strong innings and that's what we looked forward to every time he pitches."

Tomlin struck out six, issued two walks and threw 69 of 106 pitches for strikes. It led to his first win as a starter since June 28, 2014, in Seattle when he retired the first 12 batters in a one-hitter.

Tomlin turned in his third career start with at least seven innings and allowing two hits or less. He was the sixth Cleveland pitcher to finish with two hits or less in at least seven innings this season but the first to do it against New York since Bartolo Colon on Sept. 18, 2000.

"It's fun to talk about him," Cleveland manager Terry Francona said of Tomlin. "We've talked about just in the short period he's been here how much we're pulling for him, myself included, and he pitched his fanny off tonight.

"He threw a hanging breaking ball to A-Rod, but other than that, especially with all the lefties they had in the lineup and in this ballpark, he pitched in enough and up and lived away and cut it, threw some curveballs and just really pitched well. But he pitched up so much and got it by their barrel a lot."

After allowing Rodriguez's 26th home run of the season and 680th of his career, Tomlin retired 12 of the final 13 hitters and prevented Rodriguez from coming up as the potential tying run in the sixth.

Tomlin was to face Rodriguez with the bases empty in the sixth because Almonte robbed left fielder Brett Gardner of an extra-base hit with a leaping catch in front of the 385-foot sign in right-center field.

An inning later, Tomlin had help from Chisenhall, who was playing his 16th game in right field after moving from third base. Chisenhall prevented Beltran from getting a leadoff single by running in and diving face-first to catch a sinking liner.

"Oh, man, the defense played great all night," Tomlin said. "That's the reason I was able to go seven innings. The defense played their butts off."

Those catches came while the Indians had a 3-1 lead on Chisenhall's RBI double in the second and RBI singles by designated hitter Michael Brantley and left fielder Jose Ramirez in the third and fourth against right-hander Ivan Nova (5-5).

The catches proved even more significant when Cody Allen wobbled slightly in the ninth before picking up his 24th save in 27 opportunities. Allen started the ninth by allowing a single to Rodriguez and gave up a one-out RBI single to Beltran.

Beltran's hit came after New York manager Joe Girardi was ejected by plate umpire Dan Iassogna for arguing a called strike three on catcher Brian McCann. After McCann questioned the call, Girardi raced to the plate and was ejected for the third time this season.

"I ejected Joe for leaving his position to argue balls and strikes," Iassogna said to a pool reporter.

Girardi said, "I want the strike zone to be the strike zone. And I know they're not gonna be perfect. I understand that. But it's a real important time."

After the ejection, Allen walked rookie first baseman Greg Bird but retired Headley and shortstop Didi Gregorius to secure Tomlin's first win since Aug. 30 in Kansas City when he was a reliever.

The Yankees lost for the second time in eight outings as Nova (5-5) labored through five innings, allowing three runs and six hits while equaling his shortest outing of the season.

"He didn't have his command," Girardi said. "He got in a lot of long counts and he got some balls up. He just wasn't as sharp."

NOTES: New York 1B Mark Teixeira (bone bruise right leg) missed his third straight game. Manager Joe Girardi said he was encouraged when he saw Teixeira moving around better. ... Cleveland LF Michael Brantley made his fourth straight start as the designated hitter as he recovers from a shoulder injury that started bothering him last week. ... New York RHP Michael Pineda (right forearm) will throw approximately 65 pitches in a rehab start for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday; and, if it goes well, he could return next week. ... RHP Gavin Floyd (right elbow fracture) made his first rehab start for Cleveland's rookie league team in the Arizona Summer League and, according to manager Terry Francona, his velocity reached 94 mph. Francona said he will meet with Floyd and general manager Chris Antonetti to decide the next step.