Ivan Nova allowed just one run through seven and two-thirds innings Sunday as the New York Yankees (40-25) finished off their three-game weekend sweep of the first-place Nationals (38-26) with a 4–1 win. The victory was the Yankees ninth in a row, 19th in their last 23 games, and completed an impressive road trip (6-0) by sweeping two of the National League’s bigger contenders (Atlanta and Washington).
The victory was a microcosm of the Yankees’ more-recent winning ways. Two home runs were hit on offense and the pitching held the opposition to just one run. During the Yankees nine-game winning streak the pitching staff has a combined ERA of just 1.98 and the lineup has belted out 15 home runs. For the season the Yankees lead the majors with 99 home runs and are ninth in team ERA at 3.68.
Ivan Nova (9-2) was just the latest Yankee starter to come up with a gem Sunday. The 25-year-old needed just 97 pitches to get his 23 outs before giving way to the Yankees strong yet somewhat depleted bullpen. Boone Logan relieved Nova with two outs in the eighth and retired his only batter, Adam LaRoche who previously scored the only Nationals lone run with a fifth-inning homer. Rafael Soriano then pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 13th save of the season and seventh of the month.
Mark Teixeira, after hitting the game-winning double in the 14th inning Saturday, continued to swing the bat well Sunday. The power-hitting switch-hitter had three hits on the day, including a pair of doubles.
Teixeira got the Yankees on board in the first inning with a bases-loaded sacrifice-fly that scored Derek Jeter to make it 1–0. In the seventh he doubled and later scored on a passed ball by Nationals catcher Jhonatan Solano to make it 4–1.
Curtis Granderson continued his torrid hitting with another home run, his 21st, and a double in four at-bats. The seventh-inning blast gave New York a 3–1 lead and marked Granderson’s third long ball in four games and fourth during the Yankees’ nine-game winning streak.
Joining Granderson in the home run department was second baseman Robinson Cano. Cano’s center-field shot was a solo blast that broke a 1–1 tie and was one of two hits on the day for the second baseman. Cano also drew two walks and made a sensational play on defense in the first with a bare-handed grab-and-throw of a slow-moving chopper to retire Bryce Harper.
Nationals starter Edwin Jackson (3-4) was the tough-luck losing pitcher as he allowed just two runs on seven hits in six innings, while getting just the one run of support. The veteran starter should be getting used to it as his 3.02 ERA on the season is now 17th best in the National League, but is not reflected in his season total of three wins.
Despite the loss the Nationals are still in first-place, four games ahead of Atlanta in the National League East. In the American League East, the Yankees now have a one-and-a-half game lead over Baltimore as the surprising Orioles have kept close, winning seven of their last eight games.
Up next for New York is a three-game set against Atlanta at Yankee Stadium starting Monday.
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