Ivan Nova shook off some shaky defense on his way to ten strikeouts over six innings and his 10th win in another marathon game against the Red Sox. Nova gave up six hits, half of which were of the infield variety or what could have easily been called errors. Of the two runs he gave up, only one was earned on an RBI double by David Ortiz.
The normal train of relievers in Cody Eppley, Clay Rapada, David Robertson, and Rafael Soriano followed up the strong night by Nova with a few tense moments, but only Robertson gave up a run on an RBI double by Mike Aviles. Soriano made it a little interesting by walking Pedro Ciriaco, who the Yankees could just not seem to get out this series, and Nick Punto before getting out of his own jam.
Following the decreasing trend of first inning runs, the offense scored twice in the first inning off Jon Lester, thanks to singles by Derek Jeter and Curtis Granderson, a double by Mark Teixeira, and a Nick Swisher fielder's choice that scored Granderson from third base. Only Chris Stewart failed to get into the hit column for the Yankees, who recorded 14 hits on the night. Andruw Jones continued to make good use of the Green Monster with another home run in what has been an amazing weekend for him. He narrowly missed another off Alfredo Aceves in the 9th that just hooked foul down the line.
Jeter looked shaky in the field most of the night, but singled three times despite what Joe Girardi called a cramp in his shoulder. Nick Swisher reached base four times after his first inning fielder's choice on two walks, a single, and a double, and Alex Rodriguez contributed an RBI triple that nearly left the park and sent Ryan Sweeney headfirst into the outfield wall trying to catch it. Before heading to Kansas City to defend his crown as Home Run Derby winner tomorrow night, Robinson Cano also managed to push his hit streak to 15 games with a double in the ninth.
The Yankees now head to the All-Star break sitting seven games above the Orioles in the AL East with the best record in baseball at 52-33.