Joba Chamberlain picked up a short shutout tonight as the Yankees take two out of three from the Rays 6-2. Chamberlain lasted eight innings, allowing three hits and two walks. In 21 2/3 innings since the All-Star break, he’s allowed eight hits and two runs, walking eight and striking out 19. The big change, however, is in his home runs allowed. Before the break, he allowed 27 home runs per 200 innings. Since, only one ball sailed out of the park against him, a rate of 9.2 per 200 innings.

With the Red Sox losing 8-6 to Oakland, New York now holds a 3 1/2 game lead in the division and a 7 1/2 game lead over Tampa Bay.