New York - David Robertson struck out Carlos Pena with the bases loaded to end a rocky ninth inning in his first save chance since Mariano Rivera's season-ending knee injury, helping the New York Yankees end a seven-game skid against the Tampa Bay Rays with a 5-3 victory Tuesday night.

Raul Ibanez homered twice, Curtis Granderson also connected and the Yankees handed James Shields (5-1) his first loss in seven starts this season.

Ivan Nova (4-1) rebounded nicely after snapping his 15-game winning streak, pitching seven sharp innings, the last three in a steady rain. He gave up six hits and struck out eight. His effort comes on the day New York learned Andy Pettitte will be activated Sunday to make his first start since retiring after the 2010 season - meaning one pitcher will lose a spot in the rotation.

The Yankees began the season with three straight losses to Tampa Bay in Florida and last beat the AL East-leading Rays on Sept. 21. It was their longest losing streak all-time against the Rays.

Rafael Soriano moved up to the eighth-inning spot in the Yankees' reorganized bullpen and immediately gave up a triple to Ben Zobrist. Zobrist scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-3 but Soriano struck out the side.

Mark Teixeira had an RBI double in the eighth to give Robertson a two-run cushion.

Robertson ran in from the Yankees bullpen during the mid-inning announcements. His song, Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" - a stark difference from Rivera's "Enter Sandman," by Metallica - began playing just before he reached the mound and the small percentage of the remaining 37,086 gave him a nice ovation.

Robertson, born in Birmingham, Ala., retired Jeff Keppinger on a grounder to second base to end his streak of eight straight strikeouts before walking Will Rhymes and Sean Rodriguez singled.

He struck out pinch-hitter Brandon Allen then walked Zobrist to load the bases.

After the called third strike secured his fourth career save and first this season, Robertson got a quick hug from catcher Russell Martin and he joined the Yankees' usual handshake line near second base.

Robertson might have gotten the save but Nick Swisher made the opportunity possible in the seventh with two strong throws from right field. First he forced Keppinger, running from first, to stop at third on Rhymes' double into the corner. Then he held Keppinger, who was playing for the injured Evan Longoria, at third with an accurate throw home on Rodriguez's fly.

Nova finished the seventh by pounding his glove after striking out Jose Molina.

Nova gave up a leadoff single to Zobrist then retired 14 in a row before the rain started to fall and he appeared to lose his grip on the ball, giving up two straight singles. Nova bounced back by striking out Rodriguez on a full count.

Molina homered leading off the sixth and Luke Scott hit a one-out home run in the seventh for Tampa Bay, which had its only off day in a 30-day stretch Monday.

Ibanez hit a long drive to right field in the fourth for just his second hit - both homers - in 16 at-bats against Shields. Granderson then ended a long drought of his own against the Rays ace, snapping an 0-for-18 slump with a soaring fly to right that landed just a few rows beyond the short fence.

Ibanez then ripped a drive off the right-field pole against reliever Burke Badenhop leading off the seventh to make it 4-2. It was his 15th career multihomer game.

Shields gave up three runs and four hits in six innings. He gave up six runs to the Yankees on opening day but did not get a decision when Rivera blew the save.