IN GRAND FUNK
Youk’s slam keeps Ivan, Yanks scuffling
CHICAGO — There are many benefits to CC Sabathia jumping off the disabled list Friday night.
One, the ace returns from an inflamed left elbow as the Yankees’ AL East is no longer fat
Two, David Phelps, who capably replaced Sabathia in two starts, is a viable candidate to take struggling Ivan Nova’s spot in the rotation.
After watching Nova fall apart in the fifth inning last night against the White Sox, Joe Girardi at least has to be thinking about inserting Phelps for Nova.
Girardi is a firm believer in not borrowing trouble from tomorrow and refused to touch the sensitive subject after Nova gave up a grand slam to Kevin Youkilis that carried the AL Central leaders to a 7-3 victory that was witnessed by 24,247 at U.S. Cellular Field.
Nova, who is 1-5 in his last eight starts, allowed six runs and seven hits in six innings.
Thanks to command problems, which, according to Girardi, stem from mechanical issues, Nova is 11-7 after posting a 9-2 ledger across the first three months of the season and reminds nobody of the hurler who anointed himself as the best pitcher in the world on April 20 after beating the Red Sox in Boston for his third straight victory to start the year.
“You guys know I don’t talk about it,’’ Girardi said when asked if Phelps could take Nova’s spot. “Our plan is for him to start.’’
Plans, however, can change according to need.
With their lead over the second-place Rays, who lost 1-0 in 10 innings to the Royals, remaining at four lengths, can the Yankees afford to keep giving Nova the ball?
“It’s substantial; he has struggled in the second half,’’ Girardi said. “He has to find a way to turn it around.’’
Nova’s confidence has fallen drastically from that day in Boston.
“I am not doing my job and I don’t feel good,’’ said Nova, who explained he is fine physically. “With men on base, it’s mechanics.’’
Youkilis’ opposite- f i eld slam to right was the killer, but Nova gave back the 2-0 lead presented to him in the first when Derek Jeter swatted Francisco Liriano’s initial pitch over the left-field wall and Curtis Granderson drove in a run with a ground out.
A.J. Pierzynski’s sacrifice fly in the second cut the Yankees’ lead in half and Paul Konerko homered in the fourth to tie the score, 2-2.
Since the Yankees didn’t do much against Liriano, he of the 4-10 record and 5.22 ERA when the game started, after the first, Youkilis’ blast dug too deep of a hole.
In six innings, Liriano allowed two runs and six hits.
Jeter’s homer pushed him past Eddie Murray into 11th place on the all-time hit list with 3,256.
The Yankees didn’t lose ground to Texas in the race for best AL record and lead the Rangers by one-half game. The Rangers lost 5-3 to the Orioles, who are five games behind the Yankees.
Phil Hughes (12-10) starts against lefty Chris Sale (144) tonight when the Yankees hope to avoid being swept.
Based on Hughes’ home/ away splits that could be difficult. Hughes is 9-3 with a 3.42 ERA in The Bronx and 3-7 with a 5.31 ERA outside the 718 area code.
But the bigger problem is Nova, who won 16 games last season as a rookie, started this season very well and now can’t locate pitches.
“Right now, there are too many balls in the middle of the plate,’’ said Russell Martin, who homered in the seventh. “He has never been a pin-point control pitcher but he has been down.’’ And now possibly out.
george.king@nypost.com
CHICAGO — Joba Chamberlain is not immune to being sent out to make room for CC Sabathia.
Though the Yankees are mum about who goes when Sabathia comes off the disabled list Friday to start against the Indians, Chamberlain is a candidate to be shipped to TripleA ScrantonWilkes/Barre until the rosters expand Sept. 1.
After getting spanked for six runs in six innings in last night’s 73 loss to the White Sox last night, Ivan Nova also could be a candidate for demotion.
When Chamberlain was activated from the disabled list on July 31, the Yankees hoped he eventually could be a bullpen contributor working in front of David Robertson, the eighthinning reliever.
It was Joe Girardi’s plan to reintroduce Chamberlain to the big leagues — where he hadn’t worked since last June 5— in lowpressure situations.
Nevertheless, that hasn’t worked.
Nor has Chamberlain pitched well. In a very small sample (seven games; 6²/₃ IP), Chamberlain has allowed 15 hits (two homers) and four walks (two intentionally) and hit a batter. His ERA is an obese 9.45.
“I don’t anticipate making any changes tonight,’’ Girardi said after Chamberlain contributed to a 96 loss to the White Sox Monday night at U.S. Cellular Field. Chamberlain worked twothirds of an inning, gave up two hits (one homer) and a run.
Girardi said Chamberlain’s immediate future wasn’t discussed yesterday.
Sending Chamberlain to the minors obviously would remove him from the spotlight that shines on the Yankees all the time. He could work on command issues away from the glare and pitch regularly.
Derek Jeter’s leadoff homer was the 252nd of his career and tied Joe Torre’s total. It was Jeter’s 29th career leadoff homer, which is a Yankees record.
Girardi said “there is nothing new; still the same’’ when asked about Alex Rodriguez’s fractured left hand. ... After starting the last four games against lefties, Ichiro
Suzuki wasn’t in the lineup against White Sox lefty Fran
cisco Liriano last night. He went 0for1 as a pinch hitter.