TORONTO — Ivan Nova’s inconsistency is leading to some sadly familiar results for the Yankees right-hander. He had another short start yesterday, lasting just five-plus innings in the 8-4 loss to the Blue Jays. Though the bullpen put the Yankees behind for good, it was Nova who allowed most of the damage.
“I had a lack of command and wasn’t throwing strikes,” Nova said. “That kind of makes me mad. I know I can do better than this and I’m not happy.”
Nova allowed two runs over his first five innings and began the sixth inning with a 4-2 lead when he allowed a leadoff walk to Adam Lind, followed by a long double to center field from J.P. Arencibia. Manager Joe Girardi pulled Nova for Boone Logan, a move Girardi said he was planning to make regardless of how the inning began, given that left-handed hitting Colby Rasmus was due up.
Logan and David Phelps couldn’t hold on, leading to four runs crossing the plate in the frame and leaving Nova with a no-decision and a final line of four runs on seven hits and four walks in five-plus innings.
Girardi thought Nova was unlucky on some of the Jays’ early hits.
“The first four hits he gives up, only one of them is centered [on the barrel],” Girardi said. “Two infield hits and Rasmus gets jammed and hits a double down the right-field line. I thought he threw the ball OK. It was just the long counts that got him.”
Nova is stuck in a trap of not being able to get deep into games because of elevated pitch counts. He threw 101 pitches yesterday and is averaging 97 pitches per outing this season, though he has yet to make it past the five-inning mark in 2013. Dating back to last season, Nova has topped the six-inning plateau twice in his past 16 starts.
“It’s happened since last year. I struggled in the second half of last year, and this year isn’t happening the way I want it to,” Nova said. “I’m just mad with myself right now. … I know that I can do better than this, so I’ve just got to find a way to go do it.”
Chris Stewart, who has been behind the plate for all three of Nova’s starts, said while Nova’s stuff is as good as ever, his inability to consistently hit his spots is causing problems.
“When he’s able to repeat it, he’s going to be real good. It’s a matter of throwing it where it needs to be,” Stewart said. “It’s a game of repetition. You’ve got to be able to repeat what you need to do, and if you don’t, you’re going to get in trouble.”
Nova agreed, noting he felt fine physically and had his usual velocity. The right-hander’s ERA sits at 6.14. Nova admitted he was frustrated, but said he wasn’t going to dwell on his past results.
“[I will] forget and keep working,” Nova said. “One day I’m going to get my command right where I want it to. I can’t quit. I’m going to keep fighting to the end.”