Nunez Back In the Lineup For Matinee Match

The Yankees came home winners last night in the biggest of way, with a walk-off single by Vernon Wells with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th, not only giving the Yankees their 5th straight victory, but given Ivan Nova a huge win after a dominating nine inning performance.

After failing to score with the bases loaded and only one out in the 5th inning, the Yankees were presented with the exact same opportunity in the 9th, and this time, didn't fail to execute, sengin the home fans home happy.

Today's Lineup, 1:05 EST @ Yankee Stadium:

Gardner CF
Ichiro RF
Cano 2B
Hafner DH
Almonte LF
Overbay 1B
Cruz 3B
Nunez SS
Stewart C

Pettitte P

Pitching Preview:

Andy Pettitte will have a tough job ahead of him, trying to follow up Nova's dominating performance on Friday night, while also trying to right the ship, going 0-3 with a 5.84 ERA in his last four starts.

Pettitte's last start came on Tuesday against the Twins in Minnesota. He was removed from the game in the 6th inning after giving up a go-ahead homerun. He allowed four runs on six hits, while walking four and striking out two.

His second strikeout of the game was the big one that moved him past Whitey Ford to become the leader in strikeouts in Yankees history.

Chris Tillman is going for his 7th straight win, after going 6-0 in the month of June.

Only a handful of Yankees have faced Tillman in his career, including Robinson Cano, who's 9-for-18 with one homerun and six RBI's against Tillman, and Lyle Overbay is batting .375 with a pair of homeruns against the Baltimore right-hander.

Yankee Notes:

* Eduardo Nunez is back in the Yankees lineup, returning to action after missing the last 56 games with a left oblique strain. The Yankees have certainly been missing his bat in the lineup and will get him back batting 8th and playing shortstop today.

"The one thing that Nunez hasn't had is he hasn't played a bunch of games in a row," Girardi said. "Don't be surprised if I give him a day off here and there the next week or so, just because he's not probably equipped to play the next nine days in a row. He's probably not that type of shape yet and I'll have to be smart about it."

* David Phelps has been placed in the DL with a "slight forearm strain" and will be shut down for at least 10 days before throwing again. Him moving to the DL is what cleared up space for Nunez on the roster.

"We just felt it was in our best interest," Girardi said. "There was discussion of him just skipping him a start. Instead, just putting him on the DL, seeing that we have the All-Star break on our side. Making sure that he's healthy."

Phelps pitched 6 1/3 innings of four-run ball on Thursday against the Twins, and said he was a little sore but the pain was higher up on his arm. He underwent an MRI on Friday that revealed the strain.

* Hiroki Kuroda threw a bullpen session on Friday and felt good enough that the Yankees will slot him back into the rotation to pitch against the Orioles on Sunday. Phil Hughes will now pitch on Monday, Sabathia will start on Tuesday, and Nova will pitch in Wednesday against the Kansas City Royals.

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