The New York Yankees beat the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Saturday night by a 6-3 score. It was the second time in as many nights that a close game on the north shore was played, and another game in which the Bucs had a chance to come away with a victory. Unfortunately, though, the road team once again came out on top.
With the victory, the Yankees improved to 76-73 on the season while the Pirates fell to 69-80. Luis Ortiz took the loss for Pittsburgh, giving up four runs on six hits in 4.2 innings. Luke Weaver started for New York, giving up three runs on four hits in four innings. Jhony Brito earned the victory by tossing three shutout innings.
Austin Wells’ double in the top of the first inning scored the game’s first run for New York. Estevan Florial followed later in the inning with a two-run single, pushing the Yankees’ lead to 3-0.
Pittsburgh responded immediately in the bottom of the first inning with a pair of runs. Bryan Reynolds hit a two-run homerun, his 22nd of the season, to center field, cutting the lead to 3-2.
The teams traded runs in the third inning. Giancarlo Stanton’s solo homerun, his 24th of the season, made it 4-2, but a sacrifice fly by Endy Rodriguez scored Ke’Bryan Hayes in the bottom of the inning to once again make it a one-run lead.
A wild pitch by Hunter Stratton allowed Aaron Judge to score from third in the sixth inning, making it a 5-3 score. The Yankees’ final run of the game came in the top of the eighth, when Oswaldo Cabrera smacked a solo homerun, his fifth of the season, to right field to make it 6-3. Pittsburgh went quietly in the final two innings to secure the victory for New York.
This has certainly been a disappointing performance thus far this weekend for Pittsburgh. Friday night’s late-game collapse was horrible, and Saturday’s game was frustrating as well because the Bucs had chances to score runs and make it interesting. But this team is still growing and learning, and hopefully these pains they’re enduring now will pay dividends in 2024.
The Pirates will look to avoid the series sweep when they take the field in the final game of this series at PNC Park on Sunday afternoon. Colin Selby will make the start for Pittsburgh against Carlos Rodon for New York.
Record vs. Yankees: 0-2
Record vs. American League: 18-27
Record at Home: 37-40
Overall Record: 69-80
And…
As Always…
Let’s Go Bucs!
