Rays 4, Yankees 1: A three-run homer by Matt Joyce capped a ninth-inning rally, helping Tampa Bay snap a three-game losing streak and regain sole possession of first place in the American League East.

Sean Rodriguez led off the top of the ninth inning with a base hit to left field against New York closer David Robertson (0-1), who had not allowed a run in 13 previous appearances this season.

Rodriguez took third on a base hit by pinch hitter Brandon Allen and scored the tying run by beating Nick Swisher’s throw home on a one-out sacrifice fly by B.J. Upton.

Joyce followed by lining a 1-2 pitch just over the wall in right field, hushing the Yankee Stadium crowd.

Fernando Rodney (2-0), who entered the game in the eighth inning, came back out in the ninth and worked around a one-out single to end it, putting the Rays one-half game in front of idle Baltimore atop the American League East. The Orioles’ scheduled home game against Texas was rained out.

Yankees starter David Phelps walked four in his 4 2/3 innings but did not allow a run, scattering three hits and striking out three. Tampa Bay loaded the bases against Phelps in the first and fifth innings but came away empty both times – once when Will Rhymes grounded out and again when reliever Boone Logan came in to strike out Matt Joyce.

The Rays put two runners on with nobody out against Rafael Soriano in the eighth inning, but again came away without a run.

New York scored its lone run in the first inning when Derek Jeter led off with a base hit and came in on a two-out double to right by Robinson Cano.

Tampa Bay starter Jeff Niemann surrendered just six hits and a walk in seven innings. He finished with five strikeouts.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Robertson’s streak of 27 scoreless innings dating to last season was snapped. ... Jeter’s single in the first inning made him the fastest Yankee in history (30 games) to reach 50 hits. ... Phelps threw 89 pitches Wednesday, four more than in his first start last week at Kansas City. ... Niemann is 3-0 with a 2.75 ERA in six career starts against New York.