Yankees Win First Interleague Game Against Diamondbacks

sbnation.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 16th, 2013

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. New York Yankees

Final Score: Diamondbacks 2 Yankees 4

The New York Yankees were able to pick-up their first win against a National League team in the Arizona Diamondbacks much earlier than usual in the season due to the Houston Astros moving to the American League West, which forces Inter-League play throughout the season.

Yankees Starter Ivan Nova wasn’t great by any means, but he wasn’t bad either, as he gave the Yankees exactly what they need from their fifth Starter. In Nova’s first win of the season he pitched a season-high five innings allowing just two runs, but he did give up seven hits, and two walks. He never let the Diamondbacks break thru for a big inning, but Nova was in trouble in almost every inning.



The middle relief from the bullpen was great in this one leading the way to Mariano River after the five innings from Nova. Boone Logan was the first man out of the pen, and he went 1.1 innings not allowing a base runner. Joba Chamberlain came in to finish the seventh inning, and he did it quickly retiring both batters on just five pitches. David Robertson in his normal eighth inning role went rather smoothly, as he only allowed one hit.

On the day that the Yankees paid tribute to the late great Jackie Robinson by all wearing the number 42 it was only fitting to see the only player who wears 42 actively in Mariano Rivera. The Yankees normal number 42 came in the ninth, and worked a scoreless inning to earn his third save of the season.

Robinson Cano, who was named after Jackie Robinson played like he was trying to pay tribute to Robinson by having a great game. Cano got the Yankees on the board in the fourth inning with a three-run homerun, which traveled an estimated 426 feet. The homerun was Cano’s fourth of the season, and the three RBIs put Cano in double-digits with 11.

The three and four hitters for the Yankees in Kevin Youkilis and Travis Hafner both played good games in the middle of the order. They were both able to have multi-hit games, by going two for four.

Getting the start at Catcher for Francisco Cervelli, Chris Stewart played good. Stewart batting ninth had a multi-hit game going two for four, with a run scored. The Catcher position was a figured to be an offensive problem, but both Cervelli and Stewart have been hitting well.

Wednesday’s game in the Bronx will feature a good pitching match-up, as C.C. Sabathia (2-1, 2.15 ERA) will be facing Wade Miley (2-0, 2.13 ERA).