Nova is super again

Ivan Nova was absolutely lights out in the Yanks’ 5-3 win over the Reds. It really shouldn’t have been as close as the final score indicates, but a win is a win.

SuperNova went a career-high eight innings and gave up a run on four hits with a career-high-tying seven strikeouts. It was the first time he failed to walk a hitter. He retired 22 of 24 batters at one point and got 14 ground ball outs. If he keeps this up he won’t be fighting for his spot in the rotation any longer.

The reason I say the score shouldn’t have been as close as it was is because Nova should have started the ninth. He was only at 105 pitches and should have been given the opportunity for a complete game. Instead Luis Ayala came in and gave up a single to Brandon Phillips before leaving in favor of Boone Logan, who hit the next batter, Joey Votto. Mo came in and eventually got the save (His 18th on the season) but not before Rolen had an RBI single and Chris Heisey produced a run-scoring ground out.

I’m getting sick and tired of Boone Logan and his inability to get out lefties, expect a post on him tomorrow. And I’m not going to get started on why Girardi benched Gardy in favor of Andruw Jones; that was just plain stupid.

The hitters went 3-for-6 with RISP and did most of their damage in the first inning, when they touched up Travis Wood for four runs. Grandy then manufactured a run in the eighth when he drew a leadoff walk, stole second, moved to third on the throw and came home on a wild pitch from Jose Arredondo.

The team is hitting .349 with RISP over their last 11 games and are 9-2 over that span.

News and other facts:

• The last time the Yanks were in Cincy they set the franchise record with 12 extra-base hits in a game…Matsui had four (three doubles and a dinger).
• Johnny Cueto was scratched with a stiff neck and will pitch tomorrow instead.
• After a solid outing with the Staten Island Yanks on Sunday, Hughes is set to make a rehab start on Friday for the Trenton Thunder in New Britain…weather permitting.
• Jeet is a couple days away from testing his injured calf.

Brian Gordon will get his second start of the season tomorrow against Cueto in the middle tilt of this set at 7:05.

LET’S GO YANKS!!!