The rookie looked out at a roomful of media Friday afternoon and gave a familiar smile. "I don't get nervous,'' Ivan Nova said. And last night, the 24-year-old righthander proved it.
Nova pitched into the ninth inning and Robinson Cano drove in six runs with a trio of two-out hits -- including a grand slam in a six-run sixth -- as the Yankees beat the Tigers, 9-3, in Game 1 of their ALDS in front of a noisy Stadium-record crowd of 50,940.
"I was really excited,'' Nova said. "I was more confident and slowed everything down. So it was good.''
The game, suspended in the bottom of the second inning Friday night because of heavy rain, was resumed at 8:36 last night with Never Nervous Nova, 12-0 with a 3.25 ERA in his last 16 starts of the regular season, taking over for CC Sabathia.
"He did exactly what we needed him to do,'' said Derek Jeter, who went 2-for-5 and scored three runs. "He's been doing it all year.'' (continue)
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