After an off day on Monday, the Pittsburgh Pirates continued their tour of the Big Apple when they began a two-game series with the New York Yankees Tuesday evening. These two teams met earlier in the year at PNC Park and split a two-game series. Pittsburgh was hoping to get at least one win in this series, while New York was hoping to take one step closer to an East division title.
The Pirates got the scoring started in the fourth inning when Greg Allen hit a sac fly to left to plate Diego Castillo. The Yankees would then take the lead in the fifth with two runs. Harrison Bader hit an RBI single to left, then came around to score when Jose Trevino singled to center. Jason Delay gave Pittsburgh a one run lead in the sixth on a two RBI double to left center in the sixth.
Bader would strike again for New York in the bottom part of the sixth with a two-run single to right to put his team up one. Bryan Reynolds tied the game at four in the seventh with a solo home run to right. In the eighth inning it looked like the Pirates put this game away with a four-run inning. It started when Reynolds drove in Delay with a single to left center. Rodolfo Castro launched a three-run homer to go up 8-4.
The ninth inning is definitely one Pittsburgh fans would like to forget. Aaron Judge hit his 60th home run of the season with a solo dinger to left center. Down three with the bases loaded, Giancarlo Stanton walked it off with a grand slam that traveled 376 ft. to left, giving the Yankees a 9-8 victory.
There was plenty of pitching used in this game, but both starters would work five innings. Luis Ortiz allowed two runs on three hits, with five strikeouts and two walks for the Pirates. New York starter Nestor Cortes gave up one run on five hits, with four strikeouts and two walks. The goat was Wil Crowe for Pittsburgh, as he would not record an out in the ninth, allowing all five batters he faced to score. He would also pick up his tenth loss of the season.
While there was some good to see from the Pirates, a loss like this continues to give doubt to what the future of this team could be. Starting pitching was good, and the offense was on fire, but the bullpen was a big letdown. Pittsburgh will now try to earn a series split, and avoid being swept out of the Big Apple, when these two teams hook up Wednesday night at 7:05pm.
Record vs. Yankees: 1-2
Record vs. American League: 4-15
Record on the Road: 27-50
Overall Record: 55-93
And…
As Always…
Let’s Go Bucs!
