Yankees 4, Nationals 1: Yankees Win Ninth Straight, Sweep Nationals

For the first time since June 2007 the Yankees have swept three consecutive series. Interleague play has been kind to the Yankees, as with the win the Yankees 4-1 win today they have swept the first place Nationals after sweeping the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves.

The Yankees scored in the first inning on a sac fly off the bat of Mark Teixeira, then tallied two more runs on solo home runs by Curtis Granderson (5th inning) and Robinson Cano. (7th inning) Mark Teixeira also scored a run in the 7th on a passed ball. Despite struggling to hit with runners in scoring positions the Yankees managed to get enough runs again, and that's all that matters.

Ivan Nova was once again brilliant for the Yankees, going seven and two thirds strong innings, allowing only one run and seven hits. Nova struck out four and walked one. One important key to Nova's success was that he managed to keep his pitch count down, as Andy Pettitte did yesterday. If the Yankees can keep up this stretch of pitching they will be the best team in the MLB.

Rafael Soriano closed out the game for the Yankees by throwing a 1-2-3 inning, which is always great to see.

Notable numbers include Jeter going 1-5 and Raul Ibanez going 0-5. Ibanez is really struggling lately, but the Yankees likely will not do anything about that. Oh, and I miss Brett Gardner.

So the Yankees head back to New York for another three game set against the Atlanta Braves, then travel to Queens to take on the Mets. Happy Father's Day, everyone!