Highlanders 6, Red Sox 2: Dingers!

Ivan Nova did what we've come to expect Ivan Nova to do, pitching six strong innings this afternoon, allowing only two runs on seven hits. Nova walked no one for the second time this season and struck out five batters on the day. One of his runs scored after Nick Swisher lost track of a ball in the sun and the other came on a David Ortiz home run that just hit above the line on the Green Monster. After watching Phil Hughes kind of melt down after a Nunez error last night, it was nice to see Nova know how to bear down after a defensive miscue to avoid further damage.

The remaining scoreless innings were pitched by a mixture of Cory Wade, David Robertson, Cody Eppley, and Mariano Rivera. They combined for five strikeouts and only three hits to round out the game.

Yankees hitters launched five solo home runs off of Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz, making him the 2nd Boston starter to do so this season, and spoiling the 100 year celebration of Fenway for the Red Sox. Eric Chavez homered twice in the game, while Alex Rodriguez, Nick Swisher, and Russell Martin each had a dinger of their own. Each Yankee starter except Mark Teixeira had a hit in the game. With his home run today, A-Rod passed Ken Griffey Jr. for sole possession of 5th place on the home run list.

A combination of the sun and Raul Ibanez, defensive extraordinaire, playing the outfield for Brett Gardner resulted in a few adventurous plays, to say the least. Luckily, none of the missteps on defense really cost the team because of Nova's ability to constantly work out of jams throughout the game.

Comment of the Game: GMan83201 for realizing the horror a baseball fan from 1912 would experience over the home run disaster in Miami.