Comeback win, curious loss. The Yankees’ roller-coaster season rambles on.

Nick Green hit a go-ahead, three-run homer, Scott Kazmir pitched seven solid innings, and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays rebounded from an embarrassing defeat with a 5-3 victory yesterday over the Yankees.

Less than 18 hours after allowing 13 runs in the eighth inning of a 20-11 loss, the last-place Devil Rays improved to 6-3 against the Yankees, who got another home run from Gary Sheffield, but little else.

“This was a tough loss, there’s no question, after last night,” manager Joe Torre said. “This one was a little bit of a setback and a surprise because it felt like we were going to win the game.”

Jonny Gomes hit a two-run shot for Tampa Bay, which is 3-2 at Yankee Stadium this season and 4-27 in all other road games.

“For our kids to bounce back, I’m really proud of them,” manager Lou Piniella said.

As has been the case all season, the inconsistent Yankees failed to follow an uplifting victory with another sound ballgame. Somewhat lost in the euphoria of New York’s startling comeback Tuesday night from an early eight-run deficit was Randy Johnson’s lousy outing. Carl Pavano was better, but Torre left him in one batter too long.

With the Yankees leading 3-2 in the seventh, Pavano (4-6) issued a leadoff walk to Gomes. Two outs later, the right-hander hit Toby Hall with a pitch for the second time.

Green, the no. 9 batter, stunned the crowd of 48,452 by driving a 1-2 pitch over a leaping Ruben Sierra and the left-field fence for a 5-3 lead. Sierra had doubled leading off the fifth, and scored on Robinson Cano’s RBI groundout for a 3-2 Yankee lead.

“I know he was tiring, but like I said, that was going to be his last batter and we thought he could get through that,” Yankees pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre said. “One pitch made it a negative outing.”

It was the 16th home run allowed this year by Pavano, matching his total last season with Florida. Signed to a $39.95 million, four-year contract in the off-season, he has given up 120 hits, most in the major leagues. He fell to 0-4 in six starts since beating the Mets on May 23. Before the skid, he won four straight decisions.

The 21-year-old Kazmir (3-5) allowed four hits in seven innings, matching the longest outing of his brief career. It was his first win in five starts.

With dark clouds moving in and a bolt of lightning piercing the sky, Danys Baez struck out Sierra with runners at second and third to end the eighth. In a steady drizzle, Baez then finished for his 11th save in 17 chances, striking out Derek Jeter with a runner on third to end it. The Devil Rays improved to 4-of-15 in save opportunities on the road.

The Yankees, meanwhile, dropped to 0-25 when scoring three runs or fewer.

“They give us a tough time,” Alex Rodriguez said. “We know when Lou comes in here he’s always going to have his troops ready.”

Bernie Williams singled in the first, and Sheffield drove a 1-2 pitch way over the left-field fence for his third homer in two games and no. 428 of his career. He has nine RBI in the last two games. Williams’s single gave him 2,149 hits, surpassing Hall of Famer Yogi Berra for sixth on the Yankees’ career list. Williams needs four hits to tie batting coach Don Mattingly for fifth place.

Pavano cruised into the fourth until Gomes hit a two-run shot with two outs, extending his hitting streak to 10 games with his second homer in as many nights.

“Poor execution,” Pavano said. “I haven’t put together consistently good outings.”