Maybe more players should take time off. Andy Pettitte is proving that a year away from the game is having no ill effects on his game.

The lefty improved to 3-2 since his return to the Yankees after coming out of retirement by beating the Tampa Bay Rays Tuesday night by a score of 7-0. Pettitte, 40, struck 10 while giving up just two hits in 7.1 innings.

Russell Martin hit a grand slam and Nick Swisher had an RBI double as the Yankees got their ninth win in the past 12 games.

"Whether it's a streak or it's not a streak, I just like it," manager Joe Girardi said. The victory put his team a season-high six games over .500.

Pettitte continued his dominant ways at home this season. He is now 3-1 at Yankee Stadium with a 1.88 ERA in four starts.

"I don't really try to strike guys out," Pettitte said. "I feel like I am able to keep guys off-balance. My command was really good tonight."

James Shields picked up the loss, allowing five runs in five innings. He has struggled against the Yankees in his career. Before last night, Shields was 5-12 with a 4.39 ERA when facing New York.

Rays manager Joe Maddon, never at a loss for surprises, inserted former Yankee and World Series MVP Hideki Matsui into the cleanup spot in the lineup in his first game in New York since joining the team.

"We stay in the theater district when we're in town and I thought it might be good theater," Maddon said before the game. "Why not hit him fourth and have him hit a home run?" Not only did he not hit a home run, Matsui went 0-4 in his return to the Bronx. In addition, the Japanese native played right field for the first time since 2008.

The loss for the Tampa Bay, coupled with Baltimore's win against Boston, moved the Rays and Orioles into a tie atop the division. The Yankees sit just .5 game back of first place.