ST. PETERSBURG -- The longest-tenured Yankee insists that he has not bothered to peel back the layers of his uncertain future. If this is indeed the closing act of Brett Gardner's time in New York, he intends to maintain the same approach that kept him with the organization for more than a decade, leaving every ounce of energy on the field.
Gardner came off the bench to deliver a key run-scoring hit, then preserved the lead with a terrific sixth-inning catch as the Yankees defeated the Rays, 4-1, on Monday evening at Tropicana Field. The loss officially eliminated Tampa Bay from the postseason, ensuring that New York will face the Athletics in the American League Wild Card Game on Oct.