Winning pitcher Luis Gil struck out a career-high nine over 5 2/3 innings Sunday afternoon as the host New York Yankees hung on to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-4 in the rubber game of a three-game series.Alex Verdugo laced a tiebreaking two-run single during a four-run fifth inning for the Yankees, who have won six of seven series this season.The series loss was the second for the Rays.Gil (1-1), making his fourth start after missing last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, allowed an unearned run on two hits while walking three over 5 2/3 innings in his first win since 2021. The nine strikeouts were one more than his previous high that he achieved three times, most recently on April 7 against the Toronto Blue Jays.Gil allowed his only run in unusual fashion in the third, when Jose Caballero led off with a double, went to third when Gil threw the ball away on a one-out pickoff attempt and scored on Gil’s balk.Luke Weaver tossed 1 1/3 hitless innings before the Rays scored three times in the eighth. Dennis Santana gave up a two-run double to Amed Rosario and an RBI single to Curtis Mead before retiring Ben Rortvedt on a liner to right.Victor Gonzalez tossed a hitless ninth for his second save. He walked Randy Arozarena with two outs in the ninth before retiring pinch hitter Harold Ramirez on a groundout.Anthony Rizzo had an RBI single in the first for the Yankees, who built a two-out rally in the fifth to chase Aaron Civale (2-2).