Yanks top Rays as Hicks exits with tight hammy

The Yankees reduced their magic number for home-field advantage to four with a 4-1 victory over the Rays, but it may have come with a heavy price tag. Aaron Hicks left Monday night’s game in the bottom of the fourth inning. The center fielder had a tight left hamstring, according to reporters at Tropicana Field.

Hicks had just beat out a double play and seemed to come up limping slightly as he slowed down. After the game, Aaron Boone told reporters that Hicks would have an MRI, but said the Yanks were “guardedly optimistic.”

That’s the second significant injury since the Yankees clinched their place in the American League wild-card game on Saturday. Didi Gregorius was diagnosed with a small cartilage tear in cartilage in his right wrist, an injury he suffered while scoring the game-winning run in the clinching game. Hicks’ hit brought him home in that game.

Now, the Yankees are fighting for the top wild-card spot, and more specifically the home-field advantage that goes with it. Any combination of four Yankee wins and A’s losses will guarantee that the win or go-home wild-card game will be played at Yankee Stadium — avoiding a cross-country flight before a possible division series, which would begin in Boston.

The Yankees are clearly already looking ahead to that game, resetting their rotation Monday by going with a “bullpen game.” Jonathan Holder was the Yankees’ opener Monday, pitching a scoreless inning before giving way to a parade of seven more pitchers, including Aroldis Chapman pitching the seventh, Dellin Betances pitching the eighth and Zach Britton closing. Sonny Gray gave up the only Rays run in two innings pitched and picked up the victory.

That allowed Boone to push back his starters, giving them each an extra day of rest, and it realigned them in preparation for the October 3 wild-card game.

Andrew McCutchen homered and Brett Gardner, who came in to replace Hicks, singled in a run. Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge each doubled in a run.

Gardner, who lost his starting job to McCutchen, also made a game-saving play in the sixth inning. With two on and the Yankees clinging to a 3-1 lead, Gardner slammed into the center-field fence and held on to Brandon Lowe’s fly ball to end the inning. It was just the fifth time Gardner has played center field this season.

Gardner could be crucial if the Yankees have to endure any significant time without Hicks.

They are hoping, however, that they will have those two big bats back for the wild-card game.

Hicks is hitting .248 with 26 homers and 76 RBI in what has been a breakout season for him.

Gregorius and Boone were optimistic the shortstop would play again this season before Monday’s game.