NEW YORK -- Once the New York Yankees finally broke through with the bats, they turned it into an easy night for Ivan Nova. Robinson Cano hit a three-run homer, Lyle Overbay added a grand slam and New York snapped out of its offensive funk with an 8-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday. "We needed that really bad," Cano said. Nova delivered another impressive pitching performance and the Yankees, held to one run each of the previous three days, stopped a three-game slide. But it wasnt all good news. Depleted by injuries all season, New York had two more players get banged up in slumping Travis Hafner and speedy Brett Gardner. Hafner came out of the game with a bruised left foot, while Gardner departed with a bruised right leg after getting hit by a pitch for the second time. The team said X-rays on both were negative and they were day to day. Hafner got hurt while swinging in the indoor cage during the middle innings. He cranked the pitching machine up near 100 mph and fouled one off his foot. "Just kind of a freak incident," Hafner said, adding he thinks he should be all right. "Thats a first." Said manager Joe Girardi: "I dont get summoned to the cage very often." Gardner also walked twice and scored two runs. He reached base all four times from the leadoff spot. Nova (4-2) yielded only four singles and a double in eight innings for his second win in three solid starts since returning from the minors. He struck out six and walked two. "He has that kind of stuff that he can be one of the best in the game," Cano said. The right-hander was coming off his first career complete game, a three-hitter against Baltimore last Friday that included 11 strikeouts. "Same thing. Pretty good downhill with his fastball, really good curveball and mixed in a few changeups. I mean, thats kind of the formula for him. When his fastballs like this, hes going to get a lot of outs," Girardi said. "It should help his confidence. ... Hes back on track." Cano and Overbay both connected off Wade Davis (4-8), who dropped his third consecutive start. "I fell behind when I was in the stretch with runners on. I left bad pitches up in the zone," Davis said. With the Yankees still waiting for injured stars Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson and Alex Rodriguez to return, Girardi said he wasnt particularly tempted to shuffle his makeshift lineup in an attempt to spark the offence. "What would you suggest?" he asked a reporter before the game. "This is what it is." No changes necessary on this night. Gardner drew a leadoff walk in the first and scored on a wild pitch. With two outs in the third, Cano stayed back on a 1-1 breaking ball and drove it just over the left-centre fence. It was the 21st homer of the season for Cano, the American League captain for the Home Run Derby next Monday night across town at Citi Field. Cano singled to start the sixth and New York loaded the bases with none out for Overbay. He lofted a full-count pitch a few rows deep to the opposite field in left for his fourth career slam and first since May 10, 2006, with Toronto. "The little things set us up for those big hits," Overbay said. "Im just glad I put a swing on it and put it in the outfield for (at least) a sac fly. I cant remember how many times Ive struck out with the bases loaded." Davis crouched in disappointment next to the mound and was pulled from the game. He allowed eight runs, matching a career high, and six hits in his second ineffective start this season against the Yankees. They tagged him for seven runs and seven hits May 10 during a three-game sweep in Kansas City. "Wade threw fine. The numbers dont always tell the story," Royals manager Ned Yost said. Meanwhile, Nova was cruising thanks to a 93-95 mph fastball and sharp curve. Helped by Luis Cruzs diving grab at third base, he retired 12 straight before loading the bases with two outs in the fifth. After a visit from pitching coach Larry Rothschild, the right-hander set down Alcides Escobar on a shallow fly. Cano doubled off the very top of the right-centre wall in the seventh, but was thrown out by Lorenzo Cain trying to stretch it into a triple. Cano also had some fun with double-play partner Eduardo Nunez on a second-inning popup that was caught by the shortstop on Canos side of second base. Cano casually folded his arms in mock disbelief as the ball descended and then shot Nunez a nasty look before cracking a smile. Eric Hosmer hit an RBI double with two outs in the eighth for Kansas City. NOTES: All-Star C Salvador Perez was rested by the Royals in favour of George Kottaras. ... RHP Ervin Santana (5-5, 2.90 ERA) faces Yankees LHP Andy Pettitte (6-6, 4.37) in the series finale Thursday afternoon. Pettitte is 15-3 with a 3.40 ERA against Kansas City, including 10-0 in 14 starts since Sept. 4, 2000. ... Jeter (ankle) went 0 for 3 with a throwing error at SS in seven innings for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, his fourth rehab game. He is expected back with the Yankees in the next few days, but Girardi would not confirm a report that indicated the plan is for the captain to return Friday. ... Rodriguez (hip surgery) went 1 for 3 with an RBI single as the DH for Class-A Tampa, making him 2 for 15 during his rehab assignment. It was his first RBI in six minor league games. Rodriguez said hell play third base Thursday for Tampa and then get a day off Friday -- leaving him free for a scheduled meeting with baseballs Biogenesis investigators. Amir Johnson Jersey . He says so-called TRT is only one problem and he wants to go even further than the ban. "Its about time," St-Pierre told reporters at a promotional event in Montreal on Friday. "I think its a good thing. Cheap Swingman 76ers Jerseys . -- The Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake played to a 0-0 tie Saturday night that left the top of the Western Conference standings unchanged. http://www.cheap76ersjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-charles-barkley-jersey . Its sharpness matched my mind. This was no night to go to sleep. James Young Jersey .Y. - Rob Manfred was promoted Monday to Major League Baseballs chief operating officer, which may make him a candidate to succeed Bud Selig as commissioner. Richaun Holmes Jersey . Louis Cardinals. Victorino is batting sixth and playing right field after missing two games because of back tightness. NSW prop Andrew Fifita insists it was disrespectful of Gavin Cooper to toss the ball at Matt Moylan and wouldnt hesitate at running in to protect his playmaker again.Fifita feared he let his team down when he was sin-binned for starting a minor melee in the second half of Wednesdays State of Origin III win over Queensland.Cooper gave Moylan a gobful after trampling over the fill-in five-eighth for a Origin debut try in the second half, lumping the ball on the Penrith skippers head in celebration.Fifita then flew in from almost 35 metres away just to let the Cooper know he didnt like it.I hate seeing it - and everyone else hates seeing it - when a big fella goes at a little halfback. I grew up with `Moyza and its more of a bond. Its like a brotherhood between us, Fifita said post-game.Fair enough he scored it, but what he did after wasnt called for, a bit of disrespect.The Cronulla star said he had no regrets racing to stick up for his teammate.If I was closer, I wouldve (done) the same thing, he said.He said I got sin-binned because I ran in pretty much 35 metres out. I think I was 45. But Ive got no regrets in doing it. II wouldve done it for anyone in the team.ddddddddddddn fact, a proud Fifita described the incident as a throwback to Origins halcyon days.Even when I was at the bottom of it, it just happens man. I (brought Origin) back a bit, he said.I thought I let the boys down. But in saying that, I come back on and we got the win.Cooper said he quickly figured out the culprit, but described the incident as a rite of Origin passage.Someone tried to take my head off, put it in a shopping bag and take it home. But it is what it is. I guess it shows what Origin is all about - sticking up for your mate, he said.The Maroons failed to take advantage of the extra man during the period, unbeknownst to Fifita, who had no vision of the game in the dressing room.I was trying to hear the noises. There was nothing, he said.It was an amp up. When I saw there was no change, the crowd got behind me and I just heard everyone screaming when I ran back. I got back out there and tried to do my job and I made that impact again. ' ' '