New York Yankees 4 — Houston Astros 2
In the third game of the season, Ivan Nova was tabbed with stopping the losing streak already and get the Yankees on the left side of the standings. The first inning had a difficult start that could make a few Yankees fans nervous. A pair of singles and a hit batter loaded the bases with no one out. Jose Altuve hit a ground ball to third where rookie Yangervis Solarte had his first career start. He would make an attempt at a double play but would just get the force at second base for one out and the Astros would get the lead one more time in the series. Nova would reload the bases but would induce the first of four double plays in the evening.
Solarte likely could have got an out at home on the ground ball by Altuve but the rookie utility man would make the most of his first career start in the majors.
After Astros starter Brett Oberholtzer would get the first seven batters out, lineup changes would pay dividends. Ichiro Suzuki got the start in place of Jacoby Ellsbury and got the Yankees their first hit of the game in the third inning. Yangervis Solarte would get his first hit, a single to put runners on the corners. Get that ball signed and in a case, Yangervis. Brett Gardner followed up with the third single of the inning to tie the game and also produce with runners in scoring position. Derek Jeter would get a walk and Carlos Beltran would hit a sacrifice fly deep to center field to give the Yankees their first lead of the season.
While the offense was getting going, Ivan Nova was making due with what he had.
After a scoreless second inning, Nova found himself in some trouble after hitting a batter and allowing a single. Double play number two would come to end a threat. A walk in the fourth inning would get erased with the third double play of the game. The fourth double play of the game came in the fifth inning as Nova continued to dance through the fires he created. Adam Warren would make his 2014 debut to help Nova finish the sixth inning and keep the starter in line for the win.
In 5.2 innings, Ivan Nova allowed two runs on six hits with five walks and just one strikeout. He induced eight groundouts and four double plays on a night where he didn’t have his best stuff but he trusted his defense and kept the ball on the ground.
The big story of the night would be Solarte though. He would hit a shallow fly ball to left center field that would fall in and the hustle by Solarte would allow him to get to second base for his first career double in the majors. Derek Jeter would bring him home for the third run of the game. His third hit of a memorable night came in unusual fashion. He hit a high pop-up that stayed between home plate and the mound that anyone could catch but no one would. The perfect night of Yangervis Solarte continued with his first career run batted in. Not lost on the high pop-up is the hustle of Ichiro Suzuki from second with two outs. He never stopped running regardless of the situation and it paid off. Take notes kids.
Taking over for David Robertson; Shawn Kelley got his first taste of the eighth inning, set-up role. The third base side lived up to the ‘hot corner’ nickname when Yangervis Solarte played self-defense on an Altuve line drive for the first out of the eighth inning. Kelley would get the next two strikeouts to end the inning and move on to another player in a new role.
Taking over for Mariano Rivera; David Robertson entered for his first save opportunity without the greatest of all-time on the roster. The first out was a fly out to center field. Robertson would get the next out on a strikeout and the third out of a calm ninth inning was back to the new Yankees closer.
Save number one is out of the way. Win number one is out of the way. And with three hits, a run batted in, and a walk; the story of the “never nervous” Yangervis Solarte, may have just begun.
Win – Ivan Nova (1-0)
Loss – Brett Oberholtzer (0-1)
Save – David Robertson (1)
Notables
Yankees
*Yangervis Solarte – 3 for 3, 2 R, BB, 2B, RBI (1)
*Ichiro Suzuki – 2 for 4, 2 R, 2B
Astros
*Dexter Fowler – 2 for 4, R, RBI (2)
*Jose Altuve – 1 for 3, BB, RBI (3)
Current Yankees Record: 1-2
