Ivan Nova Pitches a Gem Against Orioles

yanksgoyard.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

August 31^st, 2013

Baltimore Orioles vs New York Yankees Post Game Recap

Final Score: Orioles 0 Yankees 2

The New York Yankees were able to pick up their second straight win and win the series against the Orioles at home behind a great start from Ivan Nova. The win moves the Yankees to (72-63), which is four games behind the two Wild Card spots in the American League.

For the Yankees in this win it was all about Ivan Nova, who was sensational on Saturday afternoon, while earning his eighth win of the season. Nova threw a complete game shutout, as he only allowed three hits and one walk, while striking out five. The scariest moment of the game for Nova came in the ninth inning with a runner on, as Chris Davis hit a fly ball to the warning track in Right Field, but luckily the hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium held it in.

New York Giants Preseason Wrap-Up

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

The preseason for the NFL is an exciting time as fans get the first glimpses of their favorite teams; the new players the team brought in and the fresh slate gives every team the hope that this could be their year. That’s about all that is good with the preseason though as it reared its ugliest head throughout the process in injuries. One team that was hit hard with this was the New York Giants, who saw really no positives from the preseason. Here is a rundown of the preseason as a whole as the Giants gear up for the regular season opener on Sunday Night Football September 7^th in Dallas against the Dallas Cowboys.

-Injuries

Fox Sports/ AP Photo

Yankees Take Opener Against Orioles

washingtonpost.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

August 30th, 2013

Baltimore Orioles vs. New York Yankees Post Game Recap

Final Score: Orioles 5 Yankees 8

The New York Yankees were able to start their series at home against the Baltimore Orioles on a positive not with a victory on Friday night after two straight losing series against division opponents. The win moves the Yankees to (71-63) on the seasons, which are four games behind the second Wild Card spot.

C.C. Sabathia was looking good for the first three innings of this game, but after that it was a tough go of it for Sabathia, who once again got hit hard after the third inning. Sabathia was still able to get his 12th win thanks to a lot of offense, and some great pitching from the Yankees bullpen. In the fourth inning Chris Davis broke up the scoreless game with a single that scored Manny Machado. In the fifth inning after being given a lead by the offense, Sabathia gave it right back to the Orioles, as Danny Valencia hit a two-run homerun, and then later in that inning Machado singled home Alexi Casilla to cap off the three-run inning. In the sixth inning the Orioles would get their final run off Sabathia on a Nick Markakis single that scored Adam Jones, and led to Sabathia getting pulled. Sabathia went just 5.2 innings allowing five runs on seven hits and one walk.

Kuroda Struggles Again in Loss to Blue Jays

nytimes.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

August 28th, 2013

New York Yankees vs. Toronto Blue Jays Post Game Recap

Final Score: Yankees 2 Blue Jays 7

The New York Yankees suffered a bad loss in the rubber game of the series they needed to win against a poor Toronto Blue Jays team, which hurts their playoff hopes. The loss moves them to (70-63), which is now 8.5 games behind the Boston Red Sox in the AL East, and also 5.5 games behind the two Wild Card spots.

For the third straight start Hiroki Kuroda wasn’t very good for the Yankees, who heading towards the home stretch of the season appear to not have an ace anymore due to the recent struggle of Kuroda. The loss was Kuroda’s 10th of the season, and is the third straight start he has lost. The first inning was a tough one for the Yankees, as Brett Lawrie hit a two-run double to get the Blue Jays going early. Later in that inning a weird play allowed two more runs to score after a strikeout of J.P. Arencibia, Chris Stewart had to throw him out at first, but the throw was wild allowing two runs to score. In the second inning Edwin Encarnacion hit a two-run home run, which was his 34th home run of the season. The final run off Kuroda for the Blue Jays would come in the third inning, as Jose Reyes hit a sac-fly that scored Arencibia. Kuroda went five innings allowing seven runs, five of which were earned on nine hits and one walk.

Milestone Day for Soriano Gets Yankees a Victory

nbcnewyork.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

August 27th, 2013

New York Yankees vs. Toronto Blue Jays Post Game Recap

Final Score: Yankees 7 Blue Jays 1

The New York Yankees were able to bounce back from losing the first game of the series against the Toronto Blue Jays with a nice win on Tuesday night. The win moves the Yankees to (70-62) on the season, which has them 7.5 games behind the Red Sox in the AL East, and 4.5 games behind the two Wild Card spots.

On offense the Yankees looked very good on Tuesday night getting to Blue Jays Starter J.A. Happ, and handed him his fourth loss of the season. They wasted little time getting to Happ, as in the first inning Derek Jeter singled home Brett Gardner, who led-off the game with a double. A few batters later Alfonso Soriano hit career home run number 399, which was a three-run shot. In the third inning Soriano would get the best of Happ once more by hitting a solo-home run for his 400th home run of his career. Happ finished going just 4.2 innings allowing five runs on seven hits and two walks.

Yankees Fall in Toronto 5 - 2

Alex Rodriguez hits his 650th career home run but it wasn't enough, as the Yankees fall to the Toronto Blue Jays 5-2 on Monday night.

The Blue Jays snap a 10 game losing streak against the Yankees with their victory led by the knuckle-baller R.A. Dickey who went seven strong innings. Jose Reyes and Edwin Encarnacion sparked the Toronto offense. 

The Yankees took a early first inning lead when Brett Gardner singled, went to second on a passed ball, reached third on a Jeter ground ball, and then scored when Dickey was unable to handle a comebacker from Robinson Cano. 

Toronto tied it in the second on a RBI single by Kevin Pillar, and it was followed up by a RBI single from Edwin Encarnacion in the third to take a 2-1 lead.  

Yankees Avoid Being Swept in Tampa Bay

stamfordadvocate.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

August 25th, 2013

New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays Post Game Recap

Final Score: Yankees 3 Rays 2

The New York Yankees were able to avoid the sweep on Sunday, by beating the Tampa Bay Rays in extra-innings. The win moves the Yankees to (69-61) on the season, which is seven games behind the AL East leading Red Sox, and 3.5 games behind the two Wild Card spots.

Ivan Nova wasn’t at his best, but was able to battle and get a few big double plays to avoid any real damage, and turn in a good start for the Yankees. Evan Longoria had Nova’s number in this game, as he was responsible for both Rays runs. In the first inning Longoria had a RBI single that scored David DeJesus, and then in the sixth inning Longoria hit a solo-home run, which was his 28th of the season, and it was his third home run of the weekend series. Nova finished going 6.2 innings allowing just two runs on six hits and six walks in the no decision.

Yankees Lose Second Straight Against Rays

nydailynews.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

August 24th, 2013

New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays Post Game Recap

Final Score: Yankees 2 Rays 4

The New York Yankees suffered their second straight loss in Tampa Bay against the Rays, as they have already lost the three-game weekend series. The loss moves the Yankees to (68-61), which is seven games behind the AL East leading Red Sox, and 4.5 games behind the two Wild Card spots.