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New York Yankees right-hander Ivan Nova suffered a Grade 1 flexor strain in his right forearm in the second inning of Thursday's ALDS Game 5, the team announced in a news release Friday.

Nova was examined by team physician Dr. Chris Ahmad at New York Presbyterian Hospital and underwent an MRI, which revealed the injury. The Yankees said they expected the injury to "heal without complications" during the winter.

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Nova, a 16-game winner in his first full season as a starting pitcher, took the loss in the decisive game, won by the Detroit Tigers 3-2 at Yankee Stadium.

Nova allowed back-to-back home runs on consecutive pitches in the first inning by Don Kelly and Delmon Young, and left the game after the second inning.

Afterward, Nova, 24, said he did not experience any pain in the arm during the first inning, but felt it on virtually every pitch in the second, during which he allowed a leadoff double but retired the next three hitters, including striking out Ramon Santiago to end the inning.

"I just made two mistakes in the first inning, and in the second inning, they take me out," a downcast Nova said after the game. "It's hard when you don't feel good, and you gotta come out of the game so quick. And we gotta go home now. Nobody can feel good about this."

Wallace Matthews covers the Yankees for ESPNNewYork.com.

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Wallace Matthews

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Wallace Matthews has covered New York sports since 1983 as a reporter, columnist, radio host and TV commentator. He covers the Yankees for ESPNNewYork.com after working for Newsday, the New York Post, the New York Sun and 1050 ESPN New York.
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