Yankees move closer to postseason

NEW YORK – Time to stock up on champagne. The New York Yankees are on the brink of another playoff berth.

Ivan Nova pitched shutout ball into the eighth inning, Curtis Granderson drove in four runs and New York moved within one win of a postseason spot by beating the Tampa Bay Rays 5-0 on Tuesday night.

“Right now we feel we’ve got ourselves in a good spot. We’re not worried about anybody else, we’re not paying attention to anybody else,” outfielder Nick Swisher said. “We’re worried about going out there and winning a ballgame, because we do that and it takes care of everything.”

Granderson hit a three-run double and reached base four times, boosting his MVP credentials as the Yankees slowed Tampa Bay’s charge at rival Boston in the A.L. wild-card race. The Rays remained two games behind the Red Sox, who coughed up a late lead and lost 7-5 to Baltimore.

“I absolutely love it. This is what you plot in the offseason, and you play the whole season to play meaningful games at this time of year,” Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said.

New York can secure its 16th postseason trip in 17 years with one victory in today’s day-night doubleheader against the Rays.

Solidifying his role as the team’s No. 2 starter, Nova (16-4) improved to 12-0 with a 3.09 ERA in 15 starts since his last loss June 3. Despite a midseason demotion to the minors, where he went 1-2 with a 3.38 ERA, the right-hander leads all major league rookies in wins.