NEW YORK -- After starter Chris Capuano was booed off the mound in the first inning, the New York Yankees makeshift lineup turned the mood in the Bronx a bit more festive. Mark Teixeira made up for a botched foul pop in the Rays four-run first inning with a go-ahead triple in the fifth, Brian McCann homered and drove in three runs, and the Yankees used their biggest comeback of the season to beat Tampa Bay 8-5 Wednesday night. "There was no panic," Teixeira said. "We just slowly got the job done as the night went on." The Yankees, who moved within 4 1/2 games of a playoff spot with 19 remaining, did not get off to a good start. Teixeira overran leadoff batter Ben Zobrists foul ball behind first base for no play. Zobrist then singled for his 1,000th career hit. Five of the next six Rays reached before Capuano was lifted in the shortest start of his career. By the end of the 30-minute top of the first, New York trailed 4-0. McCann got the rally started with a homer in the bottom half to end Jake Odorizzis scoreless streak at 14 1-3 innings. Filling in for injured Martin Prado, Chris Young hit his first homer with the Yankees -- he was cut by the Mets on Aug. 9 -- to tie it at 4 in the fourth. Young added an RBI double in the eighth and finished a triple shy of the cycle. Five relievers combined for 8 2-3 gritty innings, allowing seven hits, including Evan Longorias 20th homer in the ninth. Preston Claiborne (3-0) pitched two innings for the win. "We just know if we hold the game the way it is our guys could come back," said Dellin Betances, who pitched 1 1-3 scoreless innings. "It was a great win." With a full moon peeking through the clouds in centre field, the Yankees closed the gap to 4-3 in the third with the help of catcher Ryan Hanigans errant throw on ball four. Young, who singled, was running on a full-count pitch to Jacoby Ellsbury. Hanigans throw on ball four went into centre field, allowing Young to advance to third on the error. Ellsbury stole second and, one out later, McCann lined a two-run single to left field. "I thought it was a close pitch so I thought there was a chance were going to get the call, so thats why I just came up throwing," Hanigan said. McCann was hit by a pitch from Odorizzi (10-12) to start the fifth and scored when Wil Myers had trouble with Teixeiras liner into the right-field corner. Teixeira raced into third standing up with his first triple since July 6, 2012, at Boston. "It shows the character of the guys in that room, that theyre going to keep fighting," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. That was the end of the night for Odorizzi, charged with six runs and five hits in 4 1-3 innings. TRAINERS ROOM Rays: RHP Nathan Karns (0-0) will take the rotation spot of Drew Smyly, who has been shut down for the season after throwing 153 innings combined with Tampa Bay and Detroit. Yankees: DH-OF Carlos Beltran was scratched from the lineup about 90 minutes before the game because of right elbow soreness. Afterward, he said he will give it a few days before deciding if he will have to end his season early to have surgery to remove the bone spur that has been troubling him since mid-May. "Its been frustrating," Beltran said. ... Prado (hamstring) and OF Brett Gardner (abdominal strain) were also out of the lineup again. UP NEXT The AL East rivals play the finale of a three-game series Thursday with a matchup of stingy starters: the Yankees Michael Pineda (3-4) vs. the Rays Alex Cobb (9-7). Pineda has not allowed more than two earned runs in any of his nine career starts for New York. Cobb has yielded two runs or fewer in 11 straight starts, a franchise record. 1,000 HITS Zobrists accomplishment was especially meaningful to his manager. "When he first came here I would not have anticipated 1,000 hits," Joe Maddon said. "He went back to the minor leagues and came back reinvented." WATCH ME When asked how a catcher should position himself for a play at home plate on a hit to left field, Girardi, a former All-Star catcher, jumped up from his seat in the press conference room to demonstrate. He used the corner of the riser as the "plate" and proceeded to show the media how he was taught to give a lane to home plate and "then take it away" by sidestepping into the runners path. PJ Washington Jersey . "Yeah, [I heard them]," he said. "They made me miss the free throw." A year ago, Lowrys post-game antics may not have been so well received but what was snide and snarky is now endearing quick wit. Miles Bridges Jersey . He was 40. Firefighters were called about 11 a.m. Friday because Brown was unresponsive at his home near the Inner Harbor, fire spokesman Battalion Chief Kevin Cartwright said. He said Brown was dead when firefighters arrived. https://www.hornetslockerroom.com/Larry-...Edition-Jersey/. - Kyle Wood and Barclay Goodrow scored second period power-play goals to provide all of the scoring for the North Bay Battalion in a 2-0 victory over the Erie Otters in Ontario Hockey League action on Thursday. PJ Washington Hornets Jersey . Griffin scored 13 of his 31 points in the final 7:05 and Dudley got 11 of his 20 points in the third quarter, leading the defending Pacific Division champions to a 112-85 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night. "Dud is a shooter. Jalen McDaniels Jersey .com) - The Oakland Athletics needed to rely on a lot of young pitchers to win an American League West title this season.Sky Sports Paul Merson is back to look ahead to another crucial round of Premier League fixtures. The top four are all in action live on Sky Sports this weekend as the race for the title and the top four hots up.Leicester will be looking to move a step closer to their first Premier League title when they take on West Ham at the King Power Stadium but defeat could hand Tottenham, who face Stoke at the Britannia on Monday Night Football, the opportunity to close the gap. Meanwhile, Arsenal will be looking to stay in touch when they take on Crystal Palace on Super Sunday, while Manchester City face Chelsea in a mouthwatering Saturday Night Football clash.Merse correctly predicted six Premier League outcomes last time out, and also called one perfect score as Southampton beat Newcastle 3-1. Mersons last predictions Result Merses prediction West Ham 3-3 Arsenal 1-2 Aston Villa 1-2 Bournemouth 0-2 Crystal Palace 1-0 Norwich 2-1 Southampton 3-1 Newcastle 3-1 Swansea 1-0 Chelsea 1-3 Watford 1-1 Eveton 1-2 Man City 2-1 West Brom 2-0 Sunderland 0-2 Leicester 1-1 Liverpool 4-1 Stoke 2-1 Tottenham 3-0 Manchester United 3-1 Read on to see who he is backing this week...Chelsea v Man City - Saturday Night Football, 5.30pm, Sky Sports 1 HDThe gap between Manchester City in fourth and Manchester United in fifth is just five points and I fully expect Louis van Gaals side to close the gap by the time kick-off comes around at Stamford Bridge. Its a massive game for City. Merson thinks Chelsea can beat Man City 2-1 at Stamford Bridge They had a brilliant result in midweek and you have to hand it to them after they reached the Champions League semi-finals, but they cannot take their eye off the ball against Chelsea. Its still a huge ask to win the Champions League so the league is crucial. However, I think Chelsea will win this and blow the top four wide open.PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 17/2)Leicester v West Ham - Super Sunday, 1.30pm, Sky Sports 1 HDI was really disappointed in West Ham the other night. I had only really seen highlights of Slaven Bilics side this season and thought they looked excellent, but having watched the whole game against Man United, they were really poor. Merson thinks Leicester will have too much for West Ham on Sunday United put in a very good display at Upton Park but for me, West Ham didnt do enough. They didnt get enough crosses into the box and there is no point playing Andy Carroll if you are not going to get the ball into the penalty area. If youd have asked me for a prediction on Monday Id have said Im not sure, but now I cant see anything but a Leicester win.However, I still see a twist to come in the title race.PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 15/2)Arsenal v Crystal Palace - Super Sunday, 4pm, Sky Sports 1 HDArsenal are the best team in the world when the pressure is off. They will win this game because Crystal Palace are now in a position where they can afford to rest players ahead of the FA Cup semi-final. Arsenal beat Crystal Palace 2-1 at Selhurst Park earlier in the campaign They can lose this game heavily, it wont matter. The manager, the players and the fans will move on to Wembley. Arsenal will win this game.PAUL PREDICTS: 3-0 (Sky Bet odds 7/1)Stoke v Tottenham - Monday Night Football, 8pm, Sky Sports 1 HDI never go against Stoke at home. They are a very good team in front of their own fans but for me, Tottenham win. I really fancy an away win. I have been impressed with Spurs; they are a good, good team. Merson is backing Tottenham to win at Stoke on Monday Looking ahead to next season, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City, Man Utd and Liverpool all need players.dddddddddddd Tottenham only need a few fringe players, they dont need players to go straight into the team. I really think they are well up there again next season, one of the favourites.Im backing them to win on Monday night.PAUL PREDICTS: 1-3 (Sky Bet odds 14/1)Norwich v Sunderland - Saturday, 12.45pmNorwich have to make sure they dont lose this game. As long as they dont get beat Alex Neil will be happy, but if they win I think Newcastle are pretty much down. Its as simple as that! Norwich host Sunderland in a crucial clash at the bottom of the table For Sunderland its a cup final and they have to win it. What score do I go with here? My mate Jeff is a big Sunderland fan so I cant go against him. Im going for a draw here because Sunderland have been playing well recently. Theyve not had much luck in my opinion and thats why the results havent quite gone their way.Theyll get a point here but Jeff wont be happy.PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds 5/1)Everton v Southampton - Saturday, 3pmIts a tough game to call. Its a weird situation for Everton because theyve got an FA Cup semi-final coming up but Roberto Martinez is under some serious pressure. Theyve got the date at Wembley next week but cant go into that on the back of a defeat - the fans are on his back as it is. Martinez would love to rest some players but I just dont think he can afford to. Everton beat Southampton 3-0 earlier in the season A heavy defeat to Southampton and he will be under severe pressure. It will all come down to how much bottle he has. If he has the courage to rest all the players he needs for next week, then they lose this game 3-1, but if he plays a full-strength side then I see a 2-1 home win. It all comes down to Martinez and I hope he has the bottle to rest all his big guns ahead of the FA Cup semi-final.I dont envy his situation. Anyway, well go for a draw here. All the best!PAUL PREDICTS: 2-2 (Sky Bet odds 12/1)Manchester United v Aston Villa - Saturday, 3pmManchester United were outstanding in midweek. They thoroughly deserved their victory at Upton Park. In the first 20 minutes against Tottenham last Sunday I thought they played very well and looked very comfortable. But in the end they lost 3-0 and if youd just watched the opening you would have been left scratching your head and wondering how that happened! Merse thinks Manchester United can build on their midweek victory by beating Aston Villa They now have a FA Cup semi-final on the horizon but there will be no resting players from United, who still have a chance of reaching the top four. With Aston Villa the visitors they have a real opportunity to close the gap to Manchester City in fourth and I think they will do it in style.PAUL PREDICTS: 3-0 (Sky Bet odds 5/1)Newcastle v Swansea - Saturday, 3pmNo matter what the result is in the early kick-off between Norwich and Sunderland, Newcastle have to win. A Norwich win and a Newcastle defeat will near enough see Rafael Benitezs side down. Newcastle Uniteds clash against Swansea is a must-win, says Merson If you have watched Newcastle recently defensively they have been atrocious. However, Im backing Newcastle to win. They have to put everything on the line on Saturday and for me, that will be enough.PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 8/1)West Brom v Watford - Saturday, 3pmThere have been plenty giving West Brom a bit of stick in recent weeks but I thought they did well against Manchester City. When you look at the sides in the bottom three and you look at West Brom, I think theyve done great. Watfords Spanish manager Quique Sanchez Flores could rest some of his starts ahead of next weeks FA Cup semi-final On the other hand this is a perfect game for Watford ahead of the FA Cup semi-final. Its a totally different situation to that of Everton. Quique Sanchez Flores can rest every single one of his starting 11 this week and get beat 5-0 and the fans wouldnt care less. They would still clap them off.Watford have secured their top-flight status and reached the FA Cup semi-final, thats some achievement. For Everton, they have 11 international footballers and a very good team but they are not in the top half. Thats the difference.West Brom win here against a depleted Watford side.PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (Sky Bet odds 17/2)Bournemouth v Liverpool - Sunday, 1.30pmAfter Liverpools incredible win over Borussia Dortmund on Thursday night they have to concentrate on the Europa League. Liverpools top-four ambitions are pretty slim when you look at the table. They can still do it but victory over Dortmund put them two games away from a final and potentially three away from a place in next seasons Champions League. Liverpools 1-0 win over Bournemouth earlier in the season was Jurgen Klopps first in charge at Anfield They could win their next seven league games and still not make the top four. Bournemouth just did enough against Villa and were nothing special, so I still have to back Liverpool for a win.PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (Sky Bet odds 15/2)PLAY SUPER 6!Theres another £250,000 jackpot up for grabs in the latest round of the Soccer Saturday Super 6 game. All you have to do is predict the scores of the six selected matches. Its free to play so get your entries in before 3pm GMT on Saturday for the chance to win.PLAY NOW... Also See: Premier League questions Papers: LVG on the way out Live on Sky Get Sky Sports ' ' '