Yankees 1 - 2 Mariners
Final/12
  for this game

Yanks' Nova puts streak to test in Seattle

Sep 14, 2011 - 2:56 PM

Video

(Sports Network) - Ivan Nova tries to win his 12th straight decision this evening when the New York Yankees go for a sweep in their three-game set with the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field.

While Nova will be hoping to match a club rookie record set 72-years ago tonight, Mariano Rivera will be trying to equal the all-time saves mark after picking up the 600th of his amazing career on Tuesday in the Yankees' 3-2 win.

Rivera is now one save away from matching Trevor Hoffman, the only other player to amass 600 in his career.

"It feels great, it's a great number," said Rivera. "I think the next one's the biggest. I thank God for that moment."

Rivera was in position to make the save after A.J. Burnett (10-11) struck out a season-high 11 batters and allowed two runs in six innings. He picked up his first victory since August 15 and won for just the second time in his last 13 starts.

Robinson Cano homered and plated the decisive run in the sixth inning for New York, which has won three in a row and maintained its four-game lead in the AL East over Boston.

Charlie Furbush (3-9) allowed three runs in 5 1/3 innings to take the loss, Seattle's fourth in a row.

Nova, meanwhile, hasn't lost since June 3, but did not get a win for the first time in nine starts on Thursday in Baltimore. Instead he settled for a no- decision, as he allowed three runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 5-4 loss.

"I don't know -- I think I was trying to do too much," Nova said following the outing.

Still, Nova has won his last 11 decisions and should he win today he would become the first Yankees rookie since Atley Donald in 1939 to win 12 in a row.

Nova did not fare well in his only other appearance against the Mariners, as he surrendered three runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Seattle will counter with lefty Jason Vargas, who is 8-13 with a 4.49 ERA. Vargas won for the first time in four decisions on Thursday against Kansas City, as he allowed a run and four hits in six innings.

Vargas has pitched to a 12.86 ERA in two losses to the Yankees this season and is 0-3 for his career against them with a 7.86 ERA in six games, five of which have been starts.

The Yankees have won five of their eight matchups with the Mariners this season.






Related News