NEW YORK — Vernon Wells singled in the winning run with one out in the ninth inning, helping a marvelous Ivan Nova and the New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 3-2 Friday night for their season high-tying fifth straight win.
Nova (3-2) gave up a two-run homer to Matt Wieters in the second inning then stifled the Orioles the rest of the way in a spot start for Hiroki Kuroda. He allowed three hits in his first career complete game and struck out 11 and walked one.
Baltimore closer Jim Johnson (2-7) took over the ninth with a 2-1 lead and gave up a leadoff single to David Adams. Brett Gardner reached when Johnson failed to field his bunt for an error in front of the mound. Robinson Cano was walked intentionally to load the bases for the second time Friday — to vociferous boos. Manager Buck Showalter made a mound visit and Johnson promptly walked Travis Hafner to tie it.
The struggling Wells then grounded a single past a diving third baseman Manny Machado and ran toward first with his arm raised in the air. He was mobbed by his teammates and then doused with a sports drink during an interview on the field.
Manager Joe Girardi said Wells earned a start because he played well during a four-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins but he ended the night still hitting just .235.
Nova lost his place in the rotation after an ineffective start to the season and going on the disabled list. But he kept Baltimore off-balance all the way through. The 26-year-old right-hander came off the mound after getting the third out in the ninth.
The Yankees steadiest pitcher since last year, Kuroda came through a bullpen session Friday without problems. Depending how he feels Saturday, he could take his next turn in the rotation. Girardi said after the game Nova will "probably start again."
The memory of the long homer Chris Davis hit against him last weekend in Baltimore may have caused Nova to throw a little too inside to "Crush" to start the second. After hitting Davis with a pitch, Nova gave up a drive to Wieters that bounced off the top of the wall, just out of the reach of Wells, and into the left field stands for a 2-0 lead. Wieters came in batting .429 (9 for 21) with three homers against Nova.
