:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/15978663/173052289.0.jpg)
The New York Yankees started off their weekend series against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium right tonight by defeating the Orioles 3-2.
Ivan Nova took the hill tonight and, with a long term rotation spot in the question, went the distance and got the victory to improve to 3-2 on the season. Nova struck out eleven, gave up three hits, allowed two earned runs, and only walked one as he notched his third win of the season and lowered his ERA to 4.09.
The Nova Yankee fans have come to know looked to rear its ugly head in the second after Nova gave up a two-run home run to Matt Wieters to give the Orioles a two-run lead early. Nova kept his composure after the Wieters bomb and got out of the inning without giving up another run. The Wieters two-run home run would end up being all the Orioles got off Nova for the rest of the night.
In the fourth inning Lyle Overbay knocked down a Chris Davis batted ball that Robinson Cano scooped up barehanded and zinged over to Nova in time to rob Davis at first. Later in the fourth, Luis Cruz knocked in Vernon Wells, who scored from second, on a close play at the plate. Wells was ruled safe and the Yankees would end up only getting the one run out of the inning.
Miguel Gonzalez, Troy Patton, and Darren O'Day would not allow another run until Jim Johnson came out in the ninth to close the game out for the Orioles. Johnson, who has been somewhat shaky this season, gave up a leadoff single to David Adams. Brett Gardner then laid down a bunt but reached first after a Johnson error. With Adams on second and Gardner on first, Joe Girardi had Ichiro Suzuki lay down a sacrifice bunt that sent Adams to third and Gardner to second. Johnson intentionally walked Cano to load the bases. Travis Hafner, who has always seen the fastball very well, did not get anything to hit and Johnson walked in Adams to tie the game. Wells then hit a grounder to left scoring Gardner and giving the Yankees the walk-off win.
The series resumes tomorrow at 1:05 EST with Andy Pettitte on the hill for the Yankees as he takes on Chris Tillman of the Orioles. Pettitte is winless in his last four starts so let's hope tomorrow Pettitte gets back on track and the Yankees take the series.