Ryan Yarbrough’s curious winless streak as a starting pitcher has come to an end. The Rays’ brief flirtation with a losing streak is over after only two days. Oh, and Tampa Bay’s five-year, 731-game streak without a complete game? That’s done, too.

Subjected to questions throughout his career about whether he’s best served as a bulk-inning reliever following an opener, Yarbrough answered loud and clear during the Rays’ 9-2 victory over the Yankees on Thursday afternoon at Yankee Stadium. He picked up his first win as a starting pitcher in nearly 22 months by finishing what he started, delivering Tampa Bay’s first complete-game performance since Matt Andriese shut out the A’s at Tropicana Field on May 14, 2016.

• Box score

“I know we've talked a lot about Yarbs and whatever role he's in and wins -- getting wins and not getting wins,” manager Kevin Cash said, “but he's a winning pitcher.”

• Rays 'excited' for return to WS site

For the first time since Yarbrough's 8 2/3-inning gem in Seattle on Aug. 11, 2019, the scorebook had a “W” next to his name. Fittingly enough, the left-hander’s most recent win as a starter was also the only time a Rays starter recorded an out in the ninth inning between Andriese’s complete game in 2016 and Yarbrough going the distance on Thursday.

After that game in Seattle, Yarbrough said he spoke to Cash and asked the manager to let him finish the game if he were ever in that situation again.

“So it kind of comes full circle, I guess,” Yarbrough said.

Yarbrough earned every bit of this win, holding a Yankees lineup that grinded out long at-bats Wednesday night to just two runs on six hits while striking out six. He was efficient, taking advantage of a wide strike zone as he threw 113 pitches, and characteristically tough to square up aside from a pair of solo homers hit by Brett Gardner and Miguel Andújar. The Yankees’ average exit velocity against him was just 87.8 mph.

Yarbrough attacked hitters with his entire arsenal, but he leaned mostly on his changeup and cutter to keep New York off-balance. Granted a lead in the fourth inning after Austin Meadows homered for the fifth time in his last seven games, Yarbrough promptly entered and exited a jam that could have swung the game.

With Aaron Judge on third base, Gio Urshela at second and nobody out, Yarbrough retired Rougned Odor on a shallow fly ball to right field, caught Clint Frazier looking, then struck out Andújar to escape unscathed. For all the focus on the ninth -- uncharted territory for Tampa Bay starters the past five years -- Yarbrough said the fourth was his most important inning.

“That was the ballgame,” Cash said. “That was kind of a turning point for us. What a big motivator to come in after not allowing them to capitalize with any runs.”

Coming off their first back-to-back losses in three weeks, the Rays bounced back with an energizing win over Yanks ace Gerrit Cole -- who tied a season high with five runs allowed and matched a season low with five innings pitched -- to split the four-game series at Yankee Stadium. Tampa Bay has won 17 of 20 games since May 13, 23 of 30 since May 2 and 31 of 45 since April 16.

And the Rays had plenty to celebrate on their flight from New York to Arlington.

It was another big day for Meadows, who hit his 14th homer and a bases-clearing double as part of a five-RBI day that brought his season total to 44. It was a productive game for Tampa Bay's lineup overall, with Brandon Lowe, Yandy Díaz and Joey Wendle also contributing a run-scoring hit. But more than anything, it was a special day for Yarbrough.

“He was excellent the entire game. It's really fun to watch,” Meadows said. “It was cool to see him be able to go the entire game and be really efficient doing it.”

Yarbrough said the idea of pitching a complete game crossed his mind in the sixth or seventh inning. Cash said he and pitching coach Kyle Snyder were comfortable letting Yarbrough go the distance based on his pitch count, which stood at 91 after seven innings.

“You get to that point, you just want to finish it off,” Yarbrough said.

He took care of the rest, looking down and calmly pumping his left fist as he walked off the mound in the eighth inning with 103 pitches under his belt. Rays relievers Andrew Kittredge and Diego Castillo warmed up during the game, but Yarbrough returned to the mound in the ninth determined to keep the bullpen door shut.

He struck out Urshela on six pitches, retired Odor on three and fired a first-pitch sinker that Frazier lofted harmlessly into left fielder Brett Phillips’ glove for the final out. As catcher Mike Zunino made his way out to the mound, Tampa Bay’s other starting pitchers climbed over the dugout railing to celebrate with Yarbrough.

“I think that's the best part about our team [is] where everyone is pulling for you and really excited when they see you do well,” Yarbrough said. “So it's honestly huge to see everyone congratulate me, give me huge hugs afterward. Pretty awesome moment.”