Robert Sabo/New York Daily News Vidal Nuno reacts after giving up a two-run home run to Starling Marte. Alfredo Aceves gave up a go-ahead home run to Pittsburgh’s Josh Harrison in the seventh inning as the Pirates salvaged the second game of a doubleheader Sunday with a 5-3 victory over the Yankees, winning in the Bronx for the first time since the 1960 World Series.
Harrison snapped a 3-3 deadlock with a solo shot over the left-field fence, one inning after Yangervis Solarte’s homer had tied the score at 3. Harrison also made a sensational diving catch in the eighth inning with a runner on first, robbing Solarte of a likely double.
The Yankees started the day tied with Baltimore for first place in the mediocre AL East and ended the day alone there since the Orioles lost in Kansas City.
Overall, the nightcap must have stung for the Yankees. In addition to losing, they also had to watch coulda-been ace Gerrit Cole, who they did not sign after taking in the first round of the 2008 draft, make the start. At least they got further proof they were right about him six years ago – Cole, who is still developing, had moments of genuine sharpness in allowing three runs in six innings while striking out eight.
The Pirates had lost eight straight in the Bronx since beating Mickey Mantle and Co. in Game 5 of the ’60 Fall Classic, when Harvey Haddix got the win and Bill Mazeroski stroked a key double.
The Yankees saw a four-game winning streak end. They won the first game, 4-3, behind a serviceable start by Hiroki Kuroda, who allowed three runs in six innings to win for the first time since April 12.
“Even though I might not have perfect stuff, to get the win as a result is very encouraging,” Kuroda said through a translator in between games.
The Yankees, who are 16-1-19 in doubleheaders since 2000, were playing the first single-admission doubleheader at the Stadium since Sept. 29, 2004. It was the first straight twinbill on a Sunday – a staple of the schedule long ago – since April 13, 1997 against Oakland.
Girardi noted before the game that the Yankees “aren’t used to playing regular doubleheaders very often” so he was trying to delegate playing time wisely. Jacoby Ellsbury, Derek Jeter, Brian McCann and Alfonso Soriano played the first game but did not start Game 2. All four pinch-hit in the second game.
“They’re usually split (doubleheaders) and you have to be careful with some of the guys to make sure you don’t run them into the ground,” Girardi said.
The Yankees announced the attendance for the day at 46,858, but most everyone was long gone by the middle of the second game, leaving only scattered fans in the crowd to watch the end. Maybe the fans who departed were offended by the sloppy nightcap. In the second inning alone, each team made two errors and Cole committed a balk.
Vidal Nuno, who has struggled at the Stadium, started the second game for the Yankees. He came into the start with a 10.91 ERA at home this year – 6.87 for his career – but pitched credibly, allowing three runs (two earned) and six hits in six innings. He did not figure into the decision. Aceves, who allowed one run and one hit in 1.2 innings of relief, is 0-2.
The Pirates added an insurance run in the ninth inning on a sac fly by ex-Yankee Chris Stewart.
Mark Teixeira hit a two-run single in the first inning of Game 1 to erase an early deficit and Brian McCann and Brett Gardner also had RBI.
Teixeira, who has 20 RBI in 24 games since coming off the disabled list earlier this season, ripped a drive to right-center with the bases loaded to plate two runs, highlighting a three-run first.
Kuroda (3-3) struck out seven and walked two, throwing 58 of 98 pitches for strikes. He retired Gaby Sanchez with two out and the bases loaded in the fourth to dodge a major Pirates’ threat.
Corey Sipkin/New York Daily News Hiroki Kuroda allows three runs and strikes out seven over six innings. Kuroda said his mechanics and command haven’t been as sharp this season as they were last year. “I’ve tried to overcome this,” he said.
The view from across the diamond on Kuroda was this: “He was what we expected,” Pirates’ manager Clint Hurdle said. “We were able to work counts. We had some opportunities. We stayed after him. We pushed him, pushed the pitch limit.
“He found outs when he had to, to stay in the game and complete the innings that he pitched, but a couple missed opportunities by us came back to challenge us.”
Girardi mixed and matched with relievers late in Game 1, using Matt Daley, Matt Thornton and Adam Warren as a bridge to David Robertson, who notched a four-out save. Robertson struck out three of the four batters he faced.
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