Yankees Game 7: Imploding Ivan Nova big in defeat

Michael Pineda toughed out 6 but Ivan Nova only needed 1 to put tonight's loss out of reach.

New York Yankees 2 – Toronto Blue Jays 7

The Yankees played the second of three in Toronto and just when the game looked close, it got away even quicker.

After a scoreless first inning, Michael Pineda allowed a one-out walk in the second inning that came back to haunt him. After getting the second out, Ryan Goins hit a deep double, putting the Blue Jays ahead by one.

JA Happ kept the Yankees off the scoreboard despite not having a 1-2-3 inning throughout his start tonight.

In the fifth inning, Ronald Torreyes started with a line drive double down the left field line. Austin Romine followed with a single to put runners on the corners. After one out, Aaron Hicks grounded out, scoring the tying run.

Unfortunately, Pineda could not provide the shut down inning to keep the game tied in the bottom half of the inning. After a leadoff walk to Justin Smoak, Ryan Goins struck for another double to put two in scoring position with no outs. On a ground ball to Torreyes at shortstop, the throw to Teixeira was low, allowing the batter to reach and both runners to advance. A double play added another run as productive outs put the Jays ahead by two after five innings. Michael Pineda made it through one more inning but left with the Yankees trailing.

In six innings, Michael Pineda allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits while walking three and striking out six. Command eluded Pineda as three walks is highly unusual.

Kirby Yates pitched a scoreless seventh inning to keep the game within reach and Mark Teixeira chipped away from the lead in the eighth inning. Against Drew Storen, Teixeira pulled one just fair as it hit the net on the right field foul pole to bring the Yankees within one.

With the game within one, Ivan Nova took the mound in the eighth inning and was anything but sharp. Against the heart of the Blue Jays order, Nova surrendered a pair of doubles to Josh Donaldson and Jose Bautista, for one run. After a ground out, Troy Tulowitzki added a run on a single. Michael Saunders followed with a double and Russell Martin put another run on the board with a sacrifice fly. Nova hit Justin Smoak and Ryan Goins brought home another run with a single. The four-run eighth inning increased the Yankees' deficit to five, a lead that was insurmountable late in the game.

In one inning, Ivan Nova allowed four runs on five hits.

The Yankees split the first two of the three-game series with tomorrow being the rubber match.

Win – JA Happ (1-0)

Loss – Michael Pineda (1-1)

Notables

Yankees

*Mark Teixeira – 1 for 3, R, Solo home run (3) in the 8th, RBI (8)

*Ronald Torreyes – 2 for 4, R, 2B

Blue Jays

*Ryan Goins – 3 for 4, R, 2 2B, 2 RBI (2)

*Josh Donaldson – 1 for 4, R, 2B

Current Yankees Record: 4-3