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NYY@BOS: Nova strikes out 10 en route to 10th victory

Yankees starting pitcher Ivan Nova has had a rough time recently, but a struggling Blue Jays offense may be just what he needs to build some momentum.

Nova takes the mound on Saturday in Toronto after New York won the opening game of the weekend series, 10-4, against a squad that has scored just eight runs in its last four games.

It's been more than a month since Nova picked up his last win, and he's struggled mightily in his last two starts, lasting a combined 10 2/3 innings with 16 runs against him on 21 hits and a walk. He said his slider has contributed to his rough stetch.

"It's doing nothing, nothing," Nova said. "I threw a couple that looked like a changeup. Instead of breaking to the corners, they were right in the middle."

Toronto sends Aaron Laffey to the mound opposite Nova to try to help end a four-game skid for the club.

Laffey has also had recent troubles, giving up four or more runs in four of his last five starts. He did, however, pick up a win in his most recent start, allowing four runs over six innings on six hits and a walk against Oakland.

Yankees: Ichiro sees time in center field
In order to give Curtis Granderson a day off, New York manager Joe Girardi turned to Ichiro Suzuki to fill in at center field in Friday's series opener.

Ichiro had not played the position since 2008, and he had a rather uneventful time in the series opener against Toronto.

The Japanese star has seen time in both left and right field since being acquired from the Mariners, but said he is open to playing any position Girardi puts him at for the Yankees.

"When you're on the Yankees, you really don't think about that," Ichiro said.

Ichiro fared well at the plate Friday, going 2-for-5 with five RBIs, which tied a career high.

Blue Jays: Rasmus day to day with right groin strain
Colby Rasmus was forced to depart Friday night's game against the Yankees after the eighth inning because of tightness in his right groin.

Rasmus was removed after his final at-bat in the eighth inning for precautionary reasons and is currently listed as day to day. He originally suffered the injury during an extra-inning game against the A's on Aug. 3.

Worth noting
• Left-handed reliever Pedro Feliciano made his second rehab appearance with the Yankees' Rookie Gulf Coast League affiliate on Friday. Feliciano hasn't pitched in the Majors since 2010 -- when he was a member of the Mets -- after undergoing rotator cuff surgery on his pitching shoulder.

• Juan Abreu was claimed off waivers from the Astros by the Blue Jays on Friday and was assigned to Triple-A Las Vegas.

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