Ivan Nova Continues Winning Ways as New York Yankees Right the Ship
August 11, 2011 · Josh Schermerhorn · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
Before Wednesday’s game, manager Joe Girardi was questioned about the pitching staff. He said that the team will move to a five-man rotation, and when asked if starter Ivan Nova would be one of them, Girardi answered with a yes.
It is becoming increasingly clear that not only does Nova belong in the rotation, but he is probably their second-best starter this season. He came into Wednesday sporting a 10-4 record, and that includes nearly a month in the minors due to a full roster.
There are many things you can like about Nova when watching him pitch. His determination to win is visible with every pitch, leaning and pulling for every call. His self-frustration blankets his face when letting up a hit or a run. He is a damage-limiter, controlling most rallies before they get out of hand. He has let up 12 home runs this season; all of them are solo shots. Most importantly, entering Wednesday’s game, he was 3-0 with a 1.37 ERA when starting after a Yankees‘ loss.
That was the situation in the middle game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Mariano Rivera blew a hold of sorts the night before, his second straight failed performance, laying the pressure to win squarely on Nova’s shoulders. Against him was Garrett Richards, who was making his major-league debut, and the first pitcher to do so as a starter in the new Yankee Stadium. He struggled immediately, walking Brett Gardner and Derek Jeter before Curtis Granderson hit his 30th home run of the season.
Granderson would later hit a second home run for 31 on the year. With his 30 home runs, he joins Mark Teixeira on the team with 30, and became the fastest Yankees duo to reach 30 each since Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris did it in 1961.
Granderson’s four RBI were all Nova would need, as he cruised for six innings of one-run ball before running into trouble early in the seventh. However, an excellent performance by a resurgent Rafael Soriano squashed a bases loaded, nobody-out rally by the Angels. Since returning from the disabled list, Soriano has not allowed a baserunner.
Also shining in the game was Robinson Cano, who made several nice plays to his left and right at second base, and also had a three-hit game, falling a single short of the cycle. There may be better players in the league, but there are few that are more of a joy to watch than Cano, as his effortless-but-effective play is becoming more and more of a treat in pinstripes.
After two clean-up innings by Luis Ayala, the Yankees won 9-3, recording their 70th win of the season. Ivan Nova moved to 11-4, and it would be tough to argue that he isn’t their second-best starter. If his youth can complement the veteran arms of Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia, the Yankees could be in good shape for the remainder of the season.
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