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  Monday, Mar. 13 1:05pm ET
Tampa Bay 8, New York 6
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) _ Jose Canseco hit a two-run homer off Mariano Rivera during a three-run eighth-inning as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays beat the New York Yankees 8-6 Monday.

The game was for bragging rights between Yankees' owner George Steinbrenner _ who lives in nearby Tampa _ and his friend Vince Naimoli, the Devil Rays managing general partner.

``It's a step up from the normal spring training game,'' Devil Rays manager Larry Rothschild said.

Andy Pettitte allowed five hits in five shutout innings, and Scott Brosius hit a two-run double for the Yankees.

Trailing 4-0, Tampa Bay got five runs in the seventh inning against Jason Grimsley. The Devil Rays' first lead came when two runs scored after second baseman Juan Melo misplayed Gerald Williams' groundball. Herbert Perry drove in the first run on a groundout, Steve Cox scored on a wild pitch and Tony Graffanino hit a run-scoring single.

Melo walked with the bases loaded in the eighth inning, tying it at 5.

Canseco, who went 3 for 4, hit his second homer of the spring, and Pat Borders added an RBI double off Rivera. The runs were the first allowed by Rivera, the 1999 World Series MVP, since last July.

With mostly regulars in the lineup, New York led 4-0 after five innings.

Paul O'Neill singled home a run in the first and Brosius doubled in the second against Juan Guzman, who allowed three runs and four hits in four inning.

Deter Jeter added an RBI single in the fifth off closer Roberto Hernandez.

Pettitte has thrown nine shutout innings in his past two starts.

``It's scary,'' he said. ``I really can't remember (being this effective) this early. I feel like I have pretty good command of all five of my pitches right now.''

Last year, Pettitte struggled for much of the season.

``I hope he stays scared a long time,'' Yankees manager Joe Torre said. ``It just seems like he's got a lot of energy, and when I see him like that it just looks like he's pitching with a lot of confidence.''

Steinbrenner was not in attendance, and the two-time defending champions did not hear any pep talks.

``It's hard to tell a team that has won the World Series three of the past four years that a game in March is more important than another,'' Torre said.

Notes: Yankees bench coach Don Zimmer was the subject of some ribbing after driving first to Tropicana Field instead of Al Lang Field for Monday's game. ``He's going to be on the bus,'' Torre said. ... Yankees LHP Allen Watson had tests Monday on his ailing throwing shoulder. ... Devil Rays LHP Wilson Alvarez has reported shoulder tightness, but the problem is not considered serious. ... New York OF Terry Jones was hit in the nose by a flyball during batting practice and had precautionary X-rays.

 


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