Nova gets Touched Up as Yankees get Blown Out

It all began in the first inning for Nova when he had a chance at a double play but it went past Jeter as the 39 year old shortstop's range isn't what it used to be. Following the non-double play, Nova went on to allow three runs in the inning and it all went downhill from there, as he allowed seven earned runs on ten hits in 3.2 innings before Girardi yanked Nova as the game was about to fall apart. Ivan Nova said after the game that he "didn't know" what happened. When words like that come out of a pitcher's mouth it signals immaturity and the inability to admit that your stuff wasn't there on that particular day. This is not the first time Nova has treated a bad start nonchalantly, as he did a similar thing in 2012 after losing big to the Orioles on a hot, summer day. The Yankees know Nova isn't the most mature guy, and sending him down so many times clearly has not had any long-term effects on his psyche. Year after year he relapses and pitches poorly after he is guaranteed a spot in the rotation out of spring training. The Yankees need to find a way to get Nova back on track because in last year's second half he proved that he could pitch in big games.

The offense was never really in the game because of the poor pitching by the Yankees. After Nova left the game, the Yankees were able to come close but Vidal Nuno took one for the team and threw 67 pitches, allowing another seven runs to the Orioles as the game became a laugher and Girardi took the last two innings as an opportunity to rest his starting guys and put backups at several positions. A bright spot today for the Yankee offense was them finally hitting the long ball. Alfonso Soriano and Kelly Johnson both homered today to join Gardner as the only three Yankees who have hit home runs this season.

Tomorrow night will be Masahiro Tanaka's first start at Yankee Stadium. The start will be a good litmus test for the Japanese righty as he faces an explosive Baltimore lineup as he tries to get the Yankees a series win and his second win of the season against no losses. After tomorrow night the Yankees will welcome in the Red Sox for a wrap-around series beginning on Thursday.