The New York Yankees (75-73) used a four-run ninth inning to top the Pittsburgh Pirates (69-79), 7-5, in the series opener on Friday night at PNC Park.
With New York trailing 5-3 in the top of the ninth inning, DJ LeMahieu and Aaron Judge hit back-to-back singles before Gleyber Torres walked to load the bases. After Giancarlo Stanton popped out, Estevan Florial cut Pittsburgh’s lead to 5-4 with a bases-loaded walk, and Aaron Judge scored the tying run as the Pirates could not complete a game-ending double play on Anthony Volpe’s groundball to shortstop. Oswaldo Cabrera provided a huge insurance run with an RBI single, capping off the four-run inning. Clay Holmes closed it out with a 1-2-3 inning, notching his 20th save of the season.
Judge also had a two-out RBI single earlier in the contest, finishing the night 3-for-4. LeMahieu collected two hits, including a run-scoring single. Ben Rortvedt added an RBI single, and Cabrera had a three-hit game as well.
Gerrit Cole started on the mound and didn’t have his best stuff but managed to get through five innings while allowing two runs.
Anthony Misiewicz left the game in the sixth inning after getting hit in the head by a line drive. The Yankees announced that he was transported to Allegheny General Hospital, where he would undergo further testing.
The Yankees will try to take the first two games of this three-game series on Saturday at 6:35 p.m.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].