Tonight on YES: 6 p.m.

J. Odorizzi (1-1, 3.38 ERA)

@

M. Tanaka (2-2, 6.45 ERA)

  • Yankees
    Roster Scoreboard Yankees Schedule Broadcast Schedule Yankees Stats MLB Stats Standings Yankees Post Game Plus Montefiore Injury Report Video Photos Blogging the Bombers Yankees Shop
  • Nets
    Roster Scoreboard Nets Schedule Nets Statistics NBA Statistics NBA Standings Nets Post Game Plus The Brooklyn Game Video Photos Tickets
  • NYCFC
    Scoreboard Schedule Roster NYCFC Statistics NYCFC Broadcast Schedule MLS Standings MLS Statistics EmpireOfSoccer.com
  • NFL
    Scoreboard Big Blue Interactive Jet Nation NFL Standings Giants Schedule Giants Statistics Jets Schedule Jets Statistics
  • Video
    Yankees Videos Yankees Post Game Plus Yankees Highlights Yankees Studio Nets Videos Nets Post Game Plus The Michael Kay Show CenterStage Forbes SportsMoney JCTV New York City FC Videos The Chris Shearn Show
  • More
  • Shows
    TV Schedule TV Channel Finder Yankees Hot Stove Yankees Pregame Yankees Postgame Batting Practice Today Yankees Magazine Yankeeography The Michael Kay Show CenterStage CenterStage Tickets Nets Pregame Nets Postgame Nets Magazine Boxing 30 RUNNING Forbes SportsMoney The Hook-Up Stars and Pinstripes Homegrown
  • Personalities
    David Cone Jack Curry Ian Eagle John Flaherty Mike Fratello Michael Grady Ian Joy Michael Kay Sarah Kustok Al Leiter Bob Lorenz Meredith Marakovits Janusz Michallik Nancy Newman Paul O'Neill Ryan Ruocco Chris Shearn Ken Singleton Jim Spanarkel John Sterling Joe Tolleson
  • My YES
    Message Boards Fan Blogs Fan Photos Newsletter Account Management RSS Feeds YES on Twitter YES on Facebook YES on Instagram YES on YouTube

Nova takes the mound for streaking Yankees

08/11/2012 2:05 AM ET
By The Associated Press
  • Tweet
  • Facebook
  • fan commentsFan Comments 
  • Print
  • Email

(AP) -- After a rough start to their current trip, the New York Yankees have turned things around.

They hope Ivan Nova can follow that lead and end his recent struggles on the mound.

The right-hander looks to avoid losing a third straight start while trying to help the Yankees to a fourth consecutive victory Saturday against the struggling Blue Jays.

New York (66-46) opened its seven-game trip with two straight losses at Detroit, but has totaled 26 runs while winning the last three. Ichiro Suzuki matched a career high with five RBIs and Mark Teixeira homered for the second straight game in Friday's 10-4 win at Toronto.

The AL East-leading Yankees have won six of nine after dropping nine of 12.

"It seems like we're starting to pick it up a little bit," catcher Russell Martin said.

Suzuki is batting .269 in 17 games since being traded to New York, but is 6-for-17 with nine RBIs in his last four.

"There's always an expectation here, whether it's fair or not, that when you get traded here you're supposed to really come and help," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Some guys are going to feel that heat and I don't think it's really bothered him."

Teixeira also is 6-for-17 over the same four-game stretch, and 4-for-11 with two homers in his last three versus Toronto (53-59).

Nova (10-6, 4.81 ERA), however, is 0-3 with an 8.36 ERA in five starts since winning at Boston on July 8.

Things have been particularly rough the last two outings, getting tagged for 16 runs and 21 hits over 10 1/3 innings in losses at home to Baltimore and at Detroit. He yielded seven of those runs in 5 1/3 innings of a 7-2 loss to the Tigers on Monday.

"Every pitcher goes through it," Girardi said. "For the most part, the kid has been pretty good for us but right now, he's struggling. He'll find his way out."

That could come Saturday versus a Toronto club he's gone 2-0 with a 3.47 ERA against in four starts.

Losers in 10 of 12 overall, the banged-up Blue Jays have scored eight runs during their current four-game skid. Kelly Johnson homered and drove in two runs Friday for Toronto, which is trying to keep its collective head above water without injured regulars Jose Bautista (wrist), Brett Lawrie (oblique), Adam Lind (back) and J.P. Arencibia (hand).

"It's not easy what we're going through right now," losing pitcher Ricky Romero said.

Things got worse Friday when outfielder Colby Rasmus left after eight innings with tightness in his right groin. Rasmus has 20 home runs and a career high-tying 66 RBIs.

Edwin Encarnacion is .285 with 29 homers and 75 RBIs, but is 1-for-13 in his last four contests. He's 1-for-9 against Nova.

The Blue Jays hand the ball to Aaron Laffey (3-2, 4.39), who has a 6.04 ERA in his last five starts but is 3-1 during that stretch. The left-hander allowed four runs in six innings of a 6-5 win at Oakland on Sunday.

Laffey is 0-1 with an 11.74 ERA in three appearances against the Yankees, but this will be his first start versus New York since April 28, 2008 while with Cleveland.

  • Tweet
  • Facebook
  • fan commentsFan Comments 
  • Print
  • Email
YESNetwork.com comments
Powered by Livefyre

Also See ...

  • Suzuki drives in 5, Yankees top Blue Jays
  • Box score: NYY 10, TOR 4
  • DiPietro: Ibanez the right choice
  • Mariano Rivera working hard to return
  • Girardi applauds Yankees' bench


Yes Newsletter

By registering, I agree to the YESNetwork.com
Privacy Policy & Terms of Use.
For information on showtimes, follow YES on social media.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • About Our Ads
  • Site Map
  • Help Center