Bronx, NY – Robinson Cano belted a three-run homer in the third inning and Lyle Overbay broke the contest open in the sixth with a grand slam, as the New York Yankees pounded the Kansas City Royals, 8-1, to end a three-game losing streak.
Ivan Nova (4-2) allowed five hits, a run and struck out six in eight innings to win his second straight start in dominating fashion. The right-hander had 11 strikeouts in his first career complete game last Friday against Baltimore.
"It should build his confidence. Getting him back on track was very important for us," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.
Wade Davis (4-8) was pounded for six hits and eight runs over five-plus innings. The right-hander has only one win in his last 10 starts.
The Royals outscored the Yankees 8-2 in winning the first two tilts of this four-game series, but Ned Yost's team couldn't get much going offensively Wednesday night.
Eric Hosmer drove in the only run with a double in the eighth inning, but the Royals had only six hits.
A wild pitch cost the visitors in the first inning. After the Royals left two men on base in the top of the frame, the Yankees put men on second and third with one out in the bottom half. With Travis Hafner at the plate, George Kottaras couldn't handle a Davis pitch, and Brett Gardner scored. Ichiro Suzuki, though, was thrown out at home.
Luis Cruz singled to start the bottom of the third. Gardner was plunked for the first of two times on the night later in the inning. With two outs, Cano launched his 21st homer of the year to center field.
"He hit a good pitch," Yost said. "Instead of intentionally walking him in the third inning in a one-run game, it didn't make any sense."
After giving up back-to-back singles to Hosmer and Billy Butler in the first inning, Nova retired 12 straight batters until Johnny Giavotella singled in the fifth. The Royals filled the bases in that inning, but Alcides Escobar flied out to left to end the inning.
New York blew the game open an inning later. They loaded the bases thanks to singles from Cano and pinch-hitter Vernon Wells and a walk to Zoilo Almonte. Overbay then crushed a 3-2 offering over the wall in left for his fourth career grand slam.
"He's had a lot of big hits for us this year. That's a hit that really gives you a big lead. He's played outstanding at first and has done everything we've asked him to do," Girardi said.
That also ended the night for Davis, who was replaced by J.C. Gutierrez. He pegged Gardner near the right ankle later in the sixth.
Cano nearly homered for the second time in the seventh, but the ball caromed off the top of the fence in center field. Cano was then thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a triple.
Hosmer's double down the left field line plated Escobar.
Game Notes
Hafner departed with a left foot contusion, while Gardner was replaced due to a right leg contusion. Both players had x-rays, which turned up negative and are day-to-day. Hafner was hurt when he fouled a ball off his foot while swinging in the cage between innings ... Davis fell to 2-5 lifetime against the Yankees ... Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas grounded out to end the opening inning. He's 4-for-62 (.065) with runners in scoring position this year ... This was Overbay's first grand slam since May 10, 2006 when he played for Toronto. That slam came off Joe Blanton, who was pitching for Oakland ... Nova threw 105 pitches, one more than Davis.
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