Yankees fall back into tie with Tampa Bay for first in Al East after loss to Blue Jays
Ivan Nova wanted his first major league start to be memorable, which it was, just not for the right reasons. He pitched well going one out into the sixth inning before getting pulled for relief pitcher Boone Logan. In the end he gave up six hits and two earned runs while striking out three and walking one.
His first start will be remembered more for what transpired in the sixth inning. Nova started the inning with a high fastball that came a little too close for Jose Bautista’s liking. Bautista took a few steps towards the mound to voice his displeasure while both bullpens and dugouts cleared.
“Instinctively, I was kind of upset,” Bautista said. “I was just trying to see what kind of reaction I was going to get from him. I was surprised to see he was pretty defiant. He was walking up towards me and flashing his hands up and started yelling. That’s when I felt that the pitch was intentional.”
No punches or other physical contact was made and the game continued.
Robinson Cano gave the Yankees an early 1-0 lead with a double to left field that allowed Nick Swisher to score. Bautista gave the Blue Jays the lead in the third with the first of two home runs on the day. His second one came in the eighth off reliever David Robertson and put Toronto up for good, 3-2.
The Yankees played without two of their major stars. Alex Rodriguez has been on the disabled list with a strained calf and Derek Jeter was given the day off. Jeter ended up pinch hitting in the ninth for the final out. Jeter will be back in the game Tuesday night.
The loss was also the first for the Yankees when Rodriguez was not in the lineup; the team had won 12 without A-rod prior to losing to the Blue Jays on Monday.
With the loss the Yankees record fell to 77-48 on the season. It also dropped them into a tie for first place in the AL East with the Tampa Bay Rays; the Rays beat the Los Angeles Angels 4-3.
Dustin Moseley is scheduled to take the mound for the Yankees in the second game of a three game series Tuesday night against Marc Rzepczynski for the Blue Jays. Toronto holds the season series with the Yankees 6-4.
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