The New York Yankees needed an offensive push to prevent the sweep by the Phillies.
(Photo: Gabe Rodriguez)
The New York Yankees have struggled against the Philadelphia Phillies in the first two game of the series but on Wednesday afternoon in the Bronx the welcomed return of right-handed pitcher Ivan Nova led the Yankees to the 10-2 win to prevent the series sweep.
The 28 year old’s last Major League game was on April 19, 2014 when he was taken out of the game due to the elbow injury which would lead to the inevitable Tommy John Surgery. He has looked solid in his rehab starts in the Yankees’ Minor League system the last few weeks and finally made his 2015 debut on Wednesday afternoon.
He pitched a scoreless six and two-thirds innings, allowing just three hits and two walks, striking out just one. A performance the Yankees’ definitely were in search of after disappointing outings from Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda and CC Sabathia and even reliever Dellin Betances the last few days.
The Yanks were able to get on the board with two runs in the bottom of the second inning mostly due to a throwing error by the Phillies’ third baseman Andres Blanco.
In the bottom of the fourth, New York added three more runs the first off a RBI single by Brett Gardner, then a RBI double by Jose Pirela and then a RBI single by Mark Teixeira.
The lead then continued to a six run advantage off a RBI single by Chris Young. But, the Yankees were not done just yet as they moved on the seventh inning adding another three runs to the board which included another RBI double by Pirela, and RBI singles by Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira.
After Nova’s outing, recent callups Bryan Mitchell (ERA 2.08) and Diego Moreno each took turns on the mound. Mitchell closed out the seventh and then the entire eighth inning with no hits or runs allowed. In the top of the ninth though, Moreno struggled allowing three hits and two runs by Phils for a 10-2 ballgame.
Up Next:
The New York Yankees are now en route to Minute Maid Park to take on the AL West leading Houston Astros beginning on Thursday night with RHP Adam Warren (3.62, 5-4) taking the mound against LHP Dallas Keuchel (2.35, 8-3).
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