Austin Meadows homered leading off the 11th inning, sending Tampa Bay to an 8-7 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers that helped the Rays keep pace in the AL wild-card race and prevented the New York Yankees from clinching the AL East title Wednesday night.

Tampa Bay remained two games behind Oakland for the top wild card and a half-game ahead of Cleveland for the second spot.

Meadows slugged his 32nd homer off Josh Sborz (0-1), and Ji-Man Choi's sacrifice fly tacked on an insurance run after the Rays had rallied for two runs off closer Kenley Jansen in the ninth.

Tampa Bay Rays' Willy Adames, left, scores on a throwing error by Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Cody Bellinger after a single by Jesus Aguilar, as catcher Will Smith goes after the ball during the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoMark J. Terrill)

Tampa Bay Rays' Willy Adames, left, scores on a throwing error by Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Cody Bellinger after a single by Jesus Aguilar, as catcher Will Smith goes after the ball during the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoMark J. Terrill)

Tommy Pham had a career-high five hits for the Rays, who ended a two-game skid.

Tampa Bay took advantage of another collapse by Jansen, who had shown improvement lately. Jansen got booed off the field after giving up Choi's RBI single and Travis d'Arnaud's sacrifice fly that tied it 6-all.

The teams combined to use 18 pitchers, two more than on Tuesday.

Los Angeles Dodgers' Max Muncy hits a two-run double as Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Brendan McKay watches along with catcher Travis d'Arnaud, right, and home plate umpire Adrian Johnson during the second inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoMark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Max Muncy hits a two-run double as Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Brendan McKay watches along with catcher Travis d'Arnaud, right, and home plate umpire Adrian Johnson during the second inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoMark J. Terrill)

The Dodgers closed to 8-7 in the 11th on Edwin Rios' RBI single with two outs off Pete Fairbanks. But with runners on first and second, pinch-hitter Russell Martin struck out swinging.

Colin Poche (5-5) got the win. Fairbanks earned his second save.

Cody Bellinger slugged his 45th homer in the eighth, ending the Dodgers' three-game skid without a home run. It hit the right field foul pole and extended the lead to 6-4.

Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Chris Taylor can't reach the ball on a two-run double by Tampa Bay Rays' Tommy Pham during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoMark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Chris Taylor can't reach the ball on a two-run double by Tampa Bay Rays' Tommy Pham during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoMark J. Terrill)

The Dodgers led 5-4 in the sixth after pinch-hitter Joc Pederson singled in the tying run and Chris Taylor scored the go-ahead run on a passed ball by d'Arnaud that scooted off to his left.

Dustin May, the Dodgers' seventh pitcher, put the potential tying and go-ahead runs on in the seventh with consecutive hits by Pham and Nate Lowe. But then May struck out Choi and d'Arnaud, and retired Joey Wendle to end the threat.

In the eighth, May again allowed the potential tying run aboard on a leadoff single to Avisail Garcia, who was thrown out by catcher Will Smith trying to steal second.

Los Angeles Dodgers' Cody Bellinger tosses his bat as he runs to first after hitting a solo home run during the eighth inning of the team's baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoMark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Cody Bellinger tosses his bat as he runs to first after hitting a solo home run during the eighth inning of the team's baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoMark J. Terrill)

The Dodgers led 2-1 on Max Muncy's two-run double in the second.

The Rays tied it 3-all in the fifth on Pham's two-run double and took a 4-3 lead in the sixth on pinch-hitter Jesús Aguilar's RBI single, with Willy Adames scoring on Bellinger's throwing error in center field.

LATE SWITCH

For the second straight game, the Dodgers made a late change to their starting pitcher. RHP Casey Sadler got the nod instead of RHP Tony Gonsolin. Sadler tossed two-thirds of an inning. Gonsolin worked in relief, which is what he'll do in the postseason if he makes the roster, so the team wants to use him in that role down the stretch. The same thing happened Tuesday when Caleb Ferguson replaced scheduled starter Ross Stripling, who pitched in relief, also his likely postseason role.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Dodgers: LHP Rich Hill (left knee strain) will throw to hitters Friday and start Tuesday at San Diego. ... 3B Justin Turner is recovering from a sprained left ankle, but no return date has been set. "When he does come back, I want to be confident he can sustain it," manager Dave Roberts said.

UP NEXT

Rays: After an off day, RHP Charlie Morton (15-6, 3.16 ERA) goes for his career-high 16th victory Friday against Boston.

Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw (14-5, 3.05) pitches Friday at home against Colorado. He is 22-8 with a 3.41 ERA in 41 career starts versus the Rockies.

More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports