Grandy Goes Deep, Nova Dominates In Win Over The Padres

SAN DIEGO -- If there's anyone who can, the Grandy Man can!

Playing in just his 10th game of the season, second since coming off the DL for the second time, Curtis Granderson helped back up another strong outing from Ivan Nova, blasting his 2nd homerun of the season in the Yankees' 3-0 win over the Padres.

"It's still interesting," Granderson said. "I've still got to get reps, I've still got to get at-bats. One at-bat felt better than the other. One at-bat felt not as good as the other. But I'll continue to swing."

After posting a sub-three ERA in the month of July, Nova keep the hot streak going against the Padres.

Nova gave up a few hits in the first, but was able to get out of the inning unharmed, then went to give up just one hit over the next six innings, keeping the Padres off the board in the process, working efficiently throughout the night, throwing three different single-digit pitch innings.

Nova ended with day with a big strikeout of Nick Hundley looking at a called third strike to end the 7th with runners on 1st and 2nd, pumping up Nova. He permitted just four hits, while walking just one and striking out eight San Diego hitters on 85 pitches.

"I've been feeling really good," Nova said. "Like I've said in the past, I don't remember the last time I felt the way I feel now. I'm working hard to try to repeat it every time. I'm trying to go out there and do my job, try to help the team to win games."

He looked good right from the start. He was making to pitches he need to make, and his curveball was a good as I've seen in awhile.

"He's been really good since he's come back," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "The big thing is that he stays consistent with his fastball. When he does, it just makes everything else that much more effective."

Nova's biggest issue during his 1-2 run in July was that both losses were because the Yankees had been shutout. Through the first six inning, that looked like reality once again, up until Granderson smacked a fastball over the heart of the plate into the right field seats to give the Bombers a 2-0 lead.

"It was good. Any way to help the team out," Granderson said. "It was a scuffle against Ross out there. He had thrown really well against us. Finally, the third time around we were able to get just a little thing going with Soriano getting the bloop [single] there, and then finally to get a pitch that caught some of the plate."

Granderson's homerun came against San Diego's right-hander Tyson Ross, who, through the first six innings, looked as if the Yankees might never score on him.

"It's always great for a hitter to do that, to get a little work in and then you see the dividends," Girardi said. "He was a part of all three runs tonight. I've talked about how Curtis can change the complexion of a game, really quickly, and that's what he did tonight."

Ross set a new career-high with nine strikeouts against the Yankees, his sliders was his biggest weapon. The Yankees just couldn't pick up his slider, striking out five straight at one point in the game. He's didn't let a Yankee reach base until Lyle Overbay single to left to open the 5th.

David Robertson did his usual thing in the bottom of the 8th inning, Jayson Nix singled home Granderson in the top of the 9th to extend the lead to 3-0, then, of course, Mariano Rivera would come in, making his first appearance at Petco Park, setting down the Padres 1-2-3 in the 9th, sealing the Yanks 3-0 victory.

The series finale will commence Sunday at 4:10 pm EST from, what I can only assume will be a sunny San Diego. Your pitching matchup with feature former Yankee farm-hand Ian Kennedy, facing off against a likely soon to be Yankee Phil Hughes.

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