Bucs Play Longball, Take Opener From the NYY 6-3

Tyler Glasnow got a pair of grounds outs before Stalin Castro's single that almost led to disaster as Cutch and Jose Osuna almost crashed head-on fielding the ball. Another single and a steal put the Yankees in business, but a ring-up of Aaron Judge (on a generous call; there would be more duringthe night) sent them to the dugout. Jordy led off with a homer into the shrubbery for the Bucs off CC Sabathia; J-Hay, Cutch and Freeser singled to score another point, although a whiff and DP kept it from being a yuge frame.

In the second, Ty gave up another two-out knock, but no drama this time around. The Pirates touched home some more with Jose Osuna tripling and J-Bell drilling long ball number two to make it 4-0. A couple of walks sandwiched around a double and error by Osuna plated a run for NY, but a Freeser 5-2 cutdown at home saved Glasnow from any further damage. Pittsburgh went down in order.

From a crawl to a walk (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

The Bronx Bombers opened the fourth with a knock off Jordy's mitt but no prob for Tyler who whiffed a pair. The Pirates stranded a walk. In the fifth, Bucco blundering struck again. After a pair of two-out singles, Glasnow appeared to have worked out of it with a bouncer to second (actually short right as the Bucs were shifted) but J-Hay let the ball go through him, allowing a pair of runs to score. Juan Nicasio came on to get the third out and at 102 pitches, this frame was the last act for Glasnow anyway. He was charged with three runs (one earned) on seven hits, two walks, and five whiffs. The Bucs got a walk and three fly balls to Judge in RF.

Juan worked a clean sixth and Adam Warren took the ball from CC, returning the favor. The seventh brought some changes - Felipe Rivero claimed the hill, John Jaso replaced Bell at first and Adam Frazier took over for Osuna in right. It all combined for a quiet frame. It was NY's turn to gift a two-out run; Jordy, aboard on a walk, scored when Castro dropped Cutch's pop in short right. Lefty Tommy Layne came on to face El Coffee and lost him. Righty Jonathan Holder was waved in to face Freeser. That didn't work either as he singled home Andrew to make it 6-3.

Huddy worked out of a hot spot not of his own making (photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates)

Huddy took the hill in the eighth; a Freeser boot with two-outs followed by a J-Hay non-play (ruled an infield single, but...) put Yankees on the corners. Remember Matt Holliday? Doc grabbed a bat to pinch-hit. A stolen base upped the ante, but all the shoddy glove work cost Huddy was 20 extra pitches (all three post-error batters went 3-2) as he fanned the ex-Card. Tyler Clippard put up a zippo. Tony Watson got two quick outs before an infield single followed by another knock; nothing comes easy to this team. Slugger Aaron Judge became the tying run, but he went down 6-4 to raise the Jolly Roger. Sweep, anyone?

The Buc scored more runs in the first two innings than they did in the entire St. Louis series from a lineup that didn't appear very ferocious; funny how the occasional longball helps the cause. Tyler isn't there by a long shot, but now he's working with runners on, tossing some strikes and making it five or so innings; we'd say he's on track for what will be a season-long Uncle Ray tutorial. And geez, after every game the fielding is a storyline...

Notes:

• Freeser and J-Hay had a pair of hits; Jordy, Jose Osuna and Gregory each reached base twice.
• The Yankees were 2-of-2 swiping sacks; opponents are now 17-of-19 on the year against the Buccos.
• 12 pitchers were used; it took 10 hurlers to get the final 21 outs.

Photo Adam Berry/MLB.com

• The Pirates had a moment of silence before the game for Dan Rooney and placed his name around the batters box for tonight's game.
• 30,565 came out to catch the game and the fireworks.