The Devil Rays didn’t know exactly why Denny Neagle was so good. They just knew he was.

Neagle, in his second start with the Yankees, tossed a complete game four-hitter and didn’t give Tampa Bay much of a chance.

“He was awesome,” said Jose Canseco, who went 0-for-3 and drew the only walk issued by the lefty. “I can’t explain exactly what he did. There were so many pitches when it seemed like I was right on it and you’re not.”

Neagle worked efficiently and wasted little time, which was to his advantage.

“He really got into a rhythm,” said Canseco, who could have given the Devil Rays a chance in the seventh, but with runners on second and third and no one out, he grounded back to Neagle. “I never got as much of the ball as I should have and then I got frustrated. I thought I was going to get a couple of hits, but he’s good enough that you can’t beat him – even when you think he made a bad pitch. I had one swing where I really thought I got it and I just fouled it back. Then you don’t know what to do.”

Neagle would like to keep it that way.