Ivan Nova won't need surgery
New York Yankees' Ivan Nova #47 rubs his face after giving up a home run to Detroit Tigers' Don Kelly #32 in the first inning of ALDS Game 5 at Yankee Stadium in New York. (Oct 6, 2011) Credit: John Dunn
Righthander Ivan Nova, who left ALDS Game 5 after two innings Thursday night because of forearm tightness, emerged from the MRI tube Friday and received good news -- no surgery necessary.
Nova saw team physician Christopher Ahmad at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and had an MRI that showed a Grade 1 flexor strain of his right forearm. The Yankees announced "the injury is expected to heal without complications this winter."
Nova allowed back-to-back homers in the first inning that put the Yankees behind for good before throwing 19 pitches in a scoreless second inning. He then was replaced by Phil Hughes.
Nova, who will go to spring training as the No. 2 starter behind CC Sabathia -- assuming the lefthander does not opt out of his contract or re-signs with the Yankees -- said he felt stiffness in the forearm "every pitch I threw in the second inning."
Nova, who took the loss, had not lost a game since June 3, going 12-0 with a 3.25 ERA in his last 16 starts of the regular season.
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