NEW YORK -- Hitting home runs has helped the New York Yankees immensely this season but on Saturday, being able to properly bunt was equally as important.

The Yankees blew a two-run lead but pulled out a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays when rookie left fielder Ramon Flores delivered a sacrifice bunt that resulted in a throwing error and allowed pinch runner Jose Pirela to race home with none out in the bottom of the ninth inning.

New York opened the series by scoring six of its seven runs with three-run home runs by first baseman Mark Teixeira and catcher Brian McCann in the final five innings.

A day later, New York was held without a home run for the second time in three games after going six straight games with at least two home runs.

That meant the Yankees were going to have to win it differently and the opportunity began when Teixeira opened the ninth with a double that went past first baseman James Loney and into right field.

A walk to right fielder Chris Young on a full count put two on for Flores, who had been recalled from the minors for the third time Friday.

Flores showed bunt twice but Brad Boxberger (4-4) did not throw a strike. On the third pitch, Flores got it down and the ball went to the third base side of the mound.

"Always I was thinking sacrifice bunt," Flores said. "It was exciting, a big win for us."

Said manager Joe Girardi: "We wanted to give ourselves a chance and we thought that was the important thing. Sometimes when you put the ball in a pitcher's hand who isn't used to fielding a lot, sometimes things can happen. You take your chances. We decided to take a chance. It ended up working out."

Boxberger did not hear third baseman Evan Longoria calling him off, came off the mound to field the ball and rushed his throw. The ball bounced in front of second baseman Jake Elmore since Loney had charged in from first.

At that point, Pirela reached third and stopped for a moment before heading home and sliding in ahead of a throw by Elmore and tag attempt by catcher Curt Casali.

"If that ball gets by me, we have no chance obviously," Elmore said. "I set up on the bag, saw it in the dirt and tried to read the pick. It was like a snow cone and then when you try to pick through it with force, sometimes it catapults the ball a little bit when you try to catch it. Obviously you want to catch it but it just didn't happen."

Teixeira raised his arms and the rest of the Yankees jumped over the dugout rail to mob Pirela at the plate.

"When I saw Pirela sliding home, I was like, 'Oh, we won'," Flores said.

Boxberger was charged with an error and Pirela's unearned run gave the Yankees their 14th win in their last 18 home games. It also sent Tampa Bay to its seventh straight defeat and third in a row decided in the final at-bat.

"Well if there was any question that we were in a bad funk coming into the game, we solidified that with today's game," said Rays manager Kevin Cash, whose team is batting .182 (42-for-231) in the last seven games.

New York's second straight walk-off win was needed because Dellin Betances hung a 2-and-2 curveball that right fielder Steven Souza Jr. drove into the left field seats for a game-tying home run.

It was Souza's 15th home run this season and second hit in his last 28 at-bats.

It also was the first home run Betances allowed in 55 games, spanning 59 2/3 innings since Baltimore's Jonathan Schoop connected off him Aug. 13, 2014.

Betances (5-1) settled down and finished the inning to get the win.

"I felt good," Betances said. "I throw that pitch a lot. He put a good swing on it."

The eventful ninth came after right-hander Michael Pineda blanked the Rays for seven-plus innings. He held them to five hits and was lifted after a double by Casali opened the eighth, ending a string of 12 straight Rays that were retired.

Pineda opened his fourth career double-digit strikeout game by striking out the side, but also had two on in each of his first two innings. He helped himself by fanning Souza for the final out of the first and got some help when Elmore tried to bunt for a hit with two on in the second but fouled out.

"We didn't get the bunt down," Cash said. "That seems to be a little bit of a common theme lately. We got to get the bunts down."

After that, the Rays had one more runner before Pineda exited.

Pineda was nearly matched by Nathan Karns, who struck out 10 in seven innings. Karns allowed two runs four batters into the game on a single by designated hitter Alex Rodriguez and a sacrifice fly by Teixeira.

NOTES: The Rays made three roster moves before the game, as they optioned LHP C.J Riefenhauser to Triple-A Durham, purchased the contract of LHP Everett Teaford from Durham and designated 1B Marc Krauss for assignment. That gives the Rays a total of 80 roster moves since Opening Day. ... New York LHP Andrew Miller (forearm) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session before the game. The Yankees have not decided the next step for Miller, who has been on the disabled list since June 11. ... Tampa Bay RHP Steve Geltz apologized for not talking to the media after giving up C Brian McCann's home run Friday, and also tweeted to fans and followers that he was sorry for the letdown.