Ivan Nova
DYNAMIC DUO: Curtis Granderson’s two-run homer in the seventh inning was all the run support Ivan Nova (inset) would need in the Yankees’ 3-0 victory over the Padres last night in San Diego. (AP; Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO — Curtis Granderson’s two-run homer looked like white gold stitched with red laces as it climbed toward a sky dotted with thin clouds highlighted by a setting sun.
It was Granderson’s muscle the Yankees missed when he was on the disabled list until Saturday and desperately need if they want to extend the season beyond September.
Yet, as welcome as the two-run blast was for the Yankees, Ivan Nova’s sensational pitching performance overshadowed the homer.
On a day when the Alex Rodriguez-MLB Drama Factory was pumping fastballs from all angles, Granderson and Nova produced a 3-0 victory over the Padres in front of a sold-out Petco Park crowd of 44,184.
Nova, who was taken in the 2008 Rule V draft by the Padres and returned to the Yankees the following year, made Granderson’s two-run blast off Tyson Ross in the seventh inning stand up by throwing seven shutout innings in which he allowed four hits. Nova (5-4) is 3-2 in his last five outings with a 1.66 ERA.
“You have to pitch and keep your team in the game,’’ Nova said.
David Robertson worked the eighth and Mariano Rivera recorded the final three outs for his 35th save in 37 chances.
Jayson Nix, who entered the game at third base in the seventh, delivered a two-out single to right in the ninth that scored Granderson from second that presented Rivera with a three-run lead.
The victory enabled the Yankees to stay 8 1/2 games behind the AL East-leading Red Sox.
Granderson, who came off the DL Friday, drove in two runs and scored the final one.
“Any way to help the team out,’’ said Granderson, who was inserted into a lineup without Derek Jeter as the cleanup hitter. “We struggled against [Tyson] Ross.’’
Locked into a scoreless match with Nova, Ross, who retired the first 13 Yankees, blinked first in the seventh.
Alfonso Soriano had center fielder Alexi Amarista to thank for a leadoff single because Amarista broke back on the short fly that fell just out of the reach of second baseman Jedd Gyorko. Two pitches later Granderson hit a 1-0 fastball into the right-field seats for a 2-0 lead.
It was Granderson’s second homer of the season and first since coming off the shelf.
“He can change the complexion of the game quickly,’’ manager Joe Girardi said.
The inning continued when Ross walked Lyle Overbay and Eduardo Nunez. He was replaced by right-hander Nick Vincent. Ichiro Suzuki hit for Brent Lillibridge and he forced Nunez at second. With runners at the corners and one out, Chris Stewart’s fly to right wasn’t deep enough to score the heavy-legged Overbay. Vincent kept it a 2-0 game by striking out Nova for the third time.
Will Venable’s leadoff double gave the Padres an instant scoring threat in the seventh, but Nova responded by striking out Gyorko with a nasty breaking ball, retiring Alexi Amarista on a grounder to third and getting Nick Hundley looking at a 2-2 curveball.
“It says a lot,’’ Girardi said. “You need strikeouts for them not to score because you aren’t going to play the infield in.’’
Girardi said he is looking forward to adding Rodriguez to Granderson in the middle of the lineup Monday against the White Sox in Chicago.
“Our expectation is if everything went OK [in Trenton] he will be with us Monday,’’ said Girardi, who didn’t address Rodriguez getting suspended. “He is another big bat in the middle of the order. We haven’t had those guys most of the year.’’