CHICAGO, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- Rookie pitcher Ivan Nova won his first major league game Sunday and the New York Yankees edged the Chicago White Sox 2-1.
Nova (1-0), making only his second career start, held the White Sox to one run on five hits in 5 2/3 innings of work. The young right-hander fanned seven and walked only one.
Four Yankees relievers combined for three-plus innings of shutout ball and Mariano Rivera notched his 27th save with a scoreless ninth to hand New York the rubber match of a three-game set at U.S. Cellular Field.
Marcus Thames hit his third homer in two games and Brett Gardner got the Yankees' other RBI.
New York entered the game tied with Tampa Bay atop the American League East.
Chisox starter Gavin Floyd (9-11) took the hard-luck loss, surrendering only two runs on seven hits in 6 2/3 frames.
The White Sox came into the contest trailing the Minnesota Twins by 4 1/2 games in the AL Central.
