Ivan Nova: Ivan Nova holds down Orioles in victory

Across the first five games of a season-defining homestand the Yankees are 3-2 and have two opportunities to take three of four from the Birds. They now sit at 20-23 away from Camden Yards.

From left, New York Yankees Brian McCann, Starlin Castro, Aroldis Chapman and Didi Gregorius celebrate after the Yankees defeated the Baltimore Orioles, 2-1, in a baseball game Monday, July 18, 2016, at Yankee Stadium in New York. “Those guys it’s incredible what they do and what they can do and what they’ve been doing”.

“It’s been frustrating this year because we’ve been here so many times and we haven’t been able to break through for a number of different reasons”, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.

With one out and two on in the third inning, Rizzo fouled off five straight 2-2 pitches from Steven Matz before driving a change-up deep into the right-center bleachers for his 22nd homer.

Meet Ivan Nova, a 29-year old right-handed starter that was once an integral part of the last New York Yankees team that won the American League East.

Castro hit a second-deck two-run home run in the second inning off Vance Worley and Jacoby Ellsbury added an RBI single in the fourth. Nova is 7-4 with a 5.22 ERA and 78 strikeouts in his career against the Orioles.

Eovaldi threw 82 pitches, striking out one while walking two and giving up four hits.

Gausman (1-7) allowed two runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings. He allowed one run and struck out eight in seven innings, his longest outing since June 11. The Orioles kicked off Eovaldi’s rough June by scoring five runs off of him on June 3rd.

Tonight, the Yanks need starter Michael Pineda to step up.

NY failed to score in the first inning for the 23rd consecutive game.

NY faced the prospect of being 10 1/2 games behind the Orioles following Saturday’s 5-2 loss to Boston.

Girardi pulled Eovaldi, whose last start came on July 1, at 82 pitches. 500 since April 13, is 6 1/2 games behind the Orioles. Gallardo hasn’t gotten a decision in his last three outings; he is 2-0 with a 5.04 ERA in six starts since he was activated June 18 following a stint on the DL caused by right biceps tendinitis.

Perez’s RBI single off Pittsburgh All-Star closer Mark Melancon with two outs in the ninth tied the game, but the tie was short-lived.

Sabathia’s sparkling track record versus the O’s is no secret, as he’s registered a staggering 19-7 record with a 3.28 ERA and 1.17 WHIP over 35 career starts. Pinch-hitter Matt Szczur hit a grounder to first baseman James Loney, and Loney threw out Russell at the plate.

Gausman, who allowed a solo homer to Rodriguez in the second inning, scoffed at the notion that he was trying to bean Rodriguez, saying in his postgame MASN interview that there’s no way he would try to hit someone in an 0-2 count.

A non-roster invitee to spring training, Swarzak delivered 2ª scoreless innings and did not give up a hit or a walk. It was their third win in a row, and it pushed the Yankees above. The Yankees are 18-1 when Betances, Miller and Chapman pitch in the same game. The trio has also racked up a staggering 189 combined K’s over 112.2 combined innings. The Yankees carried a 3-0 lead into the sixth as Nathan Eovaldi (8-6) worked quickly and efficiently by throwing 54 pitches.

“I didn’t feel as good to start the game obviously as I did toward the end of the start”, Gausman said. But now he’s back, because the Yankees have as much trouble with their pitching as the Orioles.

NY will likely be without Mark Teixeira.