Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Ivan Nova pitched into the eighth inning
while Curtis Granderson and Robinson Cano each homered as the New York Yankees
downed the Washington Nationals, 4-1, to sweep a three-game interleague set at
Nationals Park.
Nova (9-2) scattered seven hits, a walk and one run over 7 2/3 innings for the
Yankees, who stretched their season-high win streak up to nine games despite
hitting 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position and stranding 12 men on
base.
Rafael Soriano tossed a perfect ninth inning to record his 13th save of the
year.
Edwin Jackson (3-4) allowed two runs on seven hits and three walks through six
innings in a losing effort.
Adam LaRoche hit a home run to supply the offense for Washington, which had
won six straight games entering this series.
The Yankees loaded the bases with one out in the first inning on Derek Jeter's
infield single, Granderson's double and a walk to Cano before Mark Teixeira
lifted a sacrifice fly to deep center field to plate Jeter.
Granderson and Cano each moved up a bag on the play, but Raul Ibanez lined out
to center field to keep it a 1-0 game.
After New York stranded a man on second in the second inning, Adam LaRoche led
off the bottom of the frame with a blast over the right field wall to knot the
game, 1-1.
Both teams then left a runner in scoring position in each of the next two
innings before the Yankees took the lead for good in the fifth on Granderson's
leadoff home run to right field.
New York cushioned its lead in the seventh inning.
Cano opened the scoring with a one-out homer to center field and Teixeira made
it a 4-1 game when he doubled to left, advanced to third on Ibanez's groundout
and crossed the plate on a passed ball by Nationals catcher Jhonatan Solano.
Washington would not threaten from there, failing to advance a runner past
first base for the remainder of the game.
Game Notes
New York's win streak is its longest since a nine-game run from May 13-21,
2009...Nova has won his last five starts. He improved to 4-1 in seven
career interleague appearances...Jackson fell to 2-7 in 17 career games -- 13
starts -- against the Yankees...New York leads the all-time series between the
teams, 14-10...Washington hit 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position and
left six men on base.
The Sports Network