MLB

Nova dominates spring outing, and that’s not the best part

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Ivan Nova has battled inconsistency throughout his career, and the Yankees are counting on him finally putting that behind him this season.

The 25-year-old right-hander showed how good he can be Wednesday against the Braves, when he tossed 6 ¹/₃ scoreless innings in the Yankees’ 7-0 win at Champion Stadium.

“I’ve been around for a little bit now,” Nova said.

Manager Joe Girardi noted some added maturity in Nova this spring, but the Yankees have been fooled before into thinking he has been ready to become a reliable starter.

He looked good throwing to Brian McCann in his efficient outing.

Perhaps a brief interaction with pitching coach Larry Rothschild during a bullpen earlier in the week is a positive sign.

“He said, ‘What are we going to work on?’ and I told him, ‘Keeping my ball down,’ ” Nova said. “He said ‘Wow. I remember you used to say, ‘I don’t know. You tell me.’ ”

That sounds good in March, but the Yankees would like that kind of focus for seven months.


Jacoby Ellsbury took batting practice on one of the back fields behind Steinbrenner Field and did some light jogging in the outfield as he nurses his tight right calf. He won’t play Thursday against the Red Sox in Fort Myers, but an appearance in Friday night’s home game against the Pirates isn’t being ruled out.

“Every day it’s got substantially better,” Ellsbury said. “I’m happy with how things are going right now.”

Brendan Ryan (back) is expected to play Thursday.


Mark Teixeira spoke positively about his surgically repaired wrist Wednesday and Girardi echoed those thoughts.

Girardi has been especially pleased by the fact Teixeira hasn’t needed to ask for any time off when he has been scheduled to work.

“Everything he’s been scheduled to do, he has done,” Girardi said.

And the manager expects Teixeira’s typical power to still be there.

“To me, if he’s healthy, he’s going to be productive,” Girardi said.


With Kelly Johnson at third and Brian Roberts at second, Eduardo Nunez still is trying to find a spot in a utility role.

“The decision is still up in the air,” said Girardi, who added he also is looking at Dean Anna, Scott Sizemore, Yangervis Solarte and Zelous Wheeler.

Nunez would figure to have the edge, due to his experience in The Bronx, but it’s been far from all positive.

“We still want to move him around because it wasn’t something we did a lot last year,” Girardi said. “I was really happy with his play at the end of last year when we were sticking him at third every day. … He’s been guy who’s been up and down.”

And hurt a lot.

“It’s not what you want,” Girardi said of having an injury-prone bench player. “But sometimes you have to deal with it.”