ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Alex Rodriguez hit a two-run homer and Masahiro Tanaka gave up two hits over seven innings to lead the New York Yankees to a 4-1 win against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Friday.

Rodriguez hit his sixth home run of the year off Rays starter Chris Archer on an 0-1 pitch in the top of the sixth inning to give the Yankees a 3-0 lead.

The Yankees scored their first run in the inning thanks to some shaky defense by the Rays. After Brett Gardner drew a one-out walk in the inning, Archer made a pickoff throw to first baseman Logan Morrison that went over his glove and into the outfield allowing Gardner to advance to third.

After Carlos Beltran reached on an error by second baseman Taylor Motter, Brian McCann grounded into a fielder's choice that scored Gardner.

That was all Tanaka would need as he threw just 82 pitches in his seven-inning outing. Tanaka did have two wild pitches and struck out four.

Beltran homered off Archer in the top of the eighth inning, his 11th of the season.

Rays designated hitter Steve Pearce hit a home run on a full count with two outs in the bottom of the ninth off Yankees reliever Kirby Yates.

Aroldis Chapman struck out Desmond Jennings with a 102-mph fastball for the final out.

Archer had seven strikeouts in eight innings and gave up four runs (one earned) and four hits on 113 pitches.

Archer held the Yankees to just two hits through five innings as he tried to bounce back from a rough first two months of the season.

The Yankees had runners on first and second in the top of the first inning, but Archer recovered to retire Beltran and McCann on popups and struck out Rodriguez to end the threat.

Tanaka matched Archer through five innings. Rays designated hitter Steven Pearce broke up Tanaka's no-hit bid with a single in the top of the fifth inning.

NOTES: Yankees manager Joe Girardi said he hopes 1B Mark Teixeira will be available to play Sunday or Monday after taking two cortisone injections to calm his neck spasms. Teixeira was not in the lineup Friday and told MLB.com he has been dealing with the spasms for several years. ...Rays OF/DH Steven Souza Jr. had the day off and Steven Pearce handled designated hitter duties for the Rays on Friday. ...Rays CF Kevin Kiermaier will not be able to run or throw for the next five days so the cut from his hand surgery doesn't get infected. "Just seeing his hand in a cast, it's a little frustrating," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "Because you know what he does for us on a nightly basis."