Yankees 5, Blue Jays 2: Nova Bounces Back, Strikes Out Ten

Despite all his struggles this season, games like these are why it's far too soon to write Ivan Nova off. He bounced back in a big way, going 7.1 innings of two-run ball against the Blue Jays. Nova struck out ten batters and allowed only five hits and one walk. The Yankees really needed Nova to shake off his struggles and be the pitcher he was in June and all of last year, and he looked very much like that guy this afternoon.

David Robertson relieved Nova with runners on before inducing a quick double play, and Rafael Soriano came on to untuck and record his 28th save of the season with a clean inning. The Yankees have now won four games in a row and Nova got his first win since July 8th.

The biggest hit of the game came off the bat of the newest Yankee, Casey McGehee. His three-run homer in the fourth inning was one of two hits for him in the game, and ended up being the difference. Derek Jeter also recorded two hits, one being a ground rule double, making it to 150 for the year and pulling even with Hank Aaron as the only two players to achieve that round number for 17 consecutive seasons.

It's hard to say enough about how much the Yankees have gotten out of their part-time players. Particularly now, with Alex Rodriguez on the disabled list, his replacements have given the team everything they could ask for. McGehee, Jayson Nix, and Chris Stewart combined to go 4 for 12 with four RBI at the bottom of the lineup today.

The Yankees go for the sweep tomorrow, sending Phil Hughes to the mound against J.A. Happ at 1:07 p.m. With CC Sabathia's sore elbow potentially putting his next start in jeopardy, the rest of the rotation is going to have to really come through. Nova did his part today, hopefully Hughes can do the same tomorrow.

Update: Sabathia is now headed to the DL with the aforementioned elbow issue. Bad news bears.