ST. PETERSBURG -- The first two outs of the ninth inning were recorded on only six pitches, and it seemed as though Aroldis Chapman might breeze through his save opportunity to preserve a much-needed win. Yet nothing has come that easily for the Yankees this season.

Chapman walked rookie Wander Franco in a seven-pitch battle, setting up a stressful showdown with recently acquired slugger Nelson Cruz. The All-Star closer prevailed, bending a slider past Cruz to nail down a 4-3 Yankees victory over the Rays on Tuesday at Tropicana Field.

• Box score

“Chappy looks like himself again,” said infielder DJ LeMahieu. “He looks like he’s feeling really good out there. To come out and get this first one here, it feels really good and sets us up for the rest of the series.”

The win served as a welcome palette cleanser for the Bombers, who lost three of four games this past weekend to the Red Sox at Fenway Park -- two in heartbreaking late-inning fashion.

“Any time Cruz is coming up there, it can get a little tense, but I really liked the way Chappy was throwing the ball,” said Yankees manager Aaron Boone. “Ultimately, he made pitches when he had to.”

Ryan LaMarre’s eighth-inning solo home run off reliever Jeffrey Springs offered insurance, and the Yankees needed that when Zack Britton stumbled in a shaky home half, including a Randy Arozarena ground-rule double that trimmed New York’s lead to one run.

“This team has got a lot of character,” LaMarre said. “A lot of guys really care in there. Today was awesome to answer that bell. I got a pitch that I didn’t miss.”

Chapman touched 103 mph as he recorded his 19th save in 23 chances, preserving a victory for left-hander Jordan Montgomery, who won for the first time since June 2 against Tampa Bay -- a span of eight starts.

“I have a job to do,” Montgomery said. “Every five days, I expect us to win. So whenever I go out there, I’m going to give it my all.”

Winning effort
Owning one of the best first-pitch strike percentages in the Majors, Montgomery held the Rays scoreless on five hits over five innings, walking three and striking out five.

He was 0-4 in his previous eight starts, despite allowing three or fewer runs seven times. Montgomery has received 14 runs of support over his last seven starts.

“I’m just trying to think less,” Montgomery said. “When I’m out there and aggressive and competing, I feel like I’m one of the better pitchers in the game, but then my mind gets in the way. Sometimes I try to do too much, so I just try to go out there and leave it all on the field.”

Montgomery has notched consecutive scoreless efforts after keeping Boston off the board for 5 2/3 innings on Thursday.

“I think that’s just a product of being another year removed from injury, becoming more of a man and getting more physically fit and stronger, growing into his body,” Boone said. “He does a really good job of not getting distracted.”

Run, run, Rougned
Rougned Odor raced through a late “stop” sign from third-base coach Phil Nevin in the sixth inning, tumbling into home plate with the Yankees’ third run of the evening.

Odor was the trail runner on Gio Urshela’s two-run double to center field in the sixth inning off Tampa Bay starter Shane McClanahan. Urshela missed time last week after testing positive for COVID-19.

“He’s been big for us,” Boone said of Urshela. “It’s been good to see him come back and really not miss a beat.”

New York opened scoring in the fifth inning when Greg Allen doubled and scored on a LeMahieu single, with LeMahieu having extended his on-base streak to 36 games.

Aaron Judge went 1-for-4 with a hit-by-pitch in his return from the COVID-19 injured list, having missed nine games.

“It’s really good,” Urshela said. “We’re excited to get Judgie back. We know the kind of player he is and how he’ll help the team.”