By George Devine, Sr.

On an interleague visit to Yankee Stadium, the San Francisco Giants were haunted by the ghosts of the pinstripers and shut out by curveballer Ivan Nova, who went a full nine innings (6 h, 1 w, 7 k; 9-5) and did not allow a visiting player past second base. Ryan Vogelsong took the loss (3-6; 5 ip, 5 h, 5 er, 1 w, 1 k, 1 hr). The Bronx Bombers came into the game three games out in the hunt for a wild card spot and advanced half a game in the quest.

Mark Reynolds began the Yanks’ scoring spree in the third with a single past short, advancing to third on Brendan Ryan’s base hit to left. When Chris Stewart walked, Ryan took second. Reynolds came home on Ichiro Suzuki’s sacrifice fly to center field, at which point Ryan and Stewart each advanced a base. Alex Rodriguez grounded out, 6-3, and Ryan scored with Stewart taking third, coming home on Robinson Cano’s single to left.

In the following inning Curtis Granderson singled to right and came home on Eduardo Nunez’ second home run of the year, to left. Another homer to left, by Alfonso Soriano in the sixth – his 34th — put the icing on the New York cake.

The two teams meet again at 10:05 a.m. PDT on Sunday, September 22, with Yusmeiro Petit (4-0) facing legendary Yankee southpaw Andy Pettitte (10-10) who is reportedly making his last appearance in the Bronx.