Yankees Win Tainted is By Injuries

In the Yankees 6-4 victory over the Blue Jays, injuries once again stole the headlines, further stressing Joe Girardi’s already depleted roster.

In the top of the first inning catcher Francisco Cervelli took a foul ball off his right hand, fracturing it on impact. Cervelli will need to undergo surgery to repair the injury, and is expected to miss a minimum of six weeks. Cervelli had been one of the biggest surprises for the team this season, hitting .269 with three home runs and providing stellar defense behind the plate.

In the third inning things went from bad to worse, when Ivan Nova mysteriously left the game and was replaced by David Phelps. The injury was non-contact, and initial speculation was that the starter may have tweaked his leg while delivering a pitch. Unfortunately, early reports from the Yankees say that Nova was experiencing pain in his throwing elbow, a much more concerning ailment for a key member of the rotation. Nova had been off to a rough start on the season, but was being relied on by the club to anchor the bottom of the rotation until the injured Michael Pineda can make his Yankee debut, which isn’t supposed to happen until at least mid-season. The front office traded their top hitting prospect Jesus Montero for Pineda before the start of last season, but the former Mariners standout has yet to make an appearance in pinstripes.

But, as has been the Yankee way early in the 2013 season, the Bomber managed to overcome the injuries around them and win a ball game. Lyle Overbay was the offensive hero early, delivering an RBI triple in the 4^th that gave the Yankees a 3-2 lead. Overbay then scored the 4^th run on a wild pitch shortly thereafter. The Yankees tacked on an insurance runs in the 7^th and 8^th with Cano scoring on a wild pitch and Brett Gardner delivering a solo home run.

David Phelps was fantastic in long relief for the Yankees, giving up one run in four innings and striking out nine. Joba Chamberlain threw just seven pitches to get through a scoreless eighth, while David Robertson surrendered a one run shot to Jose Bautista, allowing the Jays to pull within one, at 5-4. Mariano then shut the door in the ninth, for his 8^th save of the young season.