Yankees fall into last place with loss

On a night that Alex Rodriguez lost his 23-game hitting streak and New York tumbled into last place, the Yankees searched for positives to take away from their longest losing streak in nearly two years.

“We can’t point fingers. We’re still in this together,” Johnny Damon said Tuesday night after Tampa Bay pitching cooled off Rodriguez and Carl Crawford’s first career grand slam rallied the Devil Rays to a 6-4 victory.

The Yankees (8-11) went 0-5 on the trip, their longest losing streak since a six-game slide from May 28 to June 3, 2005.

Rodriguez went 0 for 3 with a walk. He had hit safely in 18 consecutive games to start the season and 23 straight dating to last September. Chien-Ming Wang (0-1) got the loss in his first start of the season. The Yankees slipped into the AL East cellar, half a game behind the Devil Rays, who swept New York for just the second time in 52 series.

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Tampa Bay third baseman Akinori Iwamura was put on the 15-day disabled list with a strained rib cage.... The Yankees activated right-hander Wang from the 15-day disabled list before the game and optioned outfielder Kevin Thompson to triple-A Scranton.... Toronto catcher Gregg Zaun will be put on the 15-day disabled list after injuring his right hand in Tuesday night’s game against Boston. He will be replaced by Sal Fasano.