Yankees 4, Pirates 3: Kuroda solid in win

After seven runs yesterday, it looked like the Yankees may be headed to a similar total today. While they didn't score that much, the four early runs they did score were enough for the win as Hiroki Kuroda and the bullpen held on for a 4-3 win.

The Pirates got on the board quickly when the second batter of the game, Neil Walker, hit a home run to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead. But in the bottom half of the inning, the Yankees quickly took the lead themselves. Brett Gardner led off the inning with a walk. Derek Jeter then did a Jeter thing and laid down a bunt. However, the Pirates had no play on the bunt and both runners were safe. Jaocby Ellsbury then worked a full count before getting hit with a pitch. That loaded the bases for Mark Teixeira. Teixeira ripped a single to right-center, scoring two and moving Ellsbury to third. Brian McCann then added another run when he singled. The Yankees let Charlie Morton off the hook and failed to add more in the first, but they now had a 3-1 lead.

However, the Yankees did add more in the bottom of the second. Kelly Johnson led off the inning with a single. During Zoilo Almonte's at bat, Johnson was able to steal second and then go to third when Tony Sanchez's throw got into center field. After Almonte struck out, Gardner doubled. That scored Johnson and made it 4-1.

Kuroda escaped a bases-loaded jam in the top of the fourth, but the Pirates were able to cut into the lead in the fifth. Tony Sanchez led off the inning with a home run, making it 4-2. Clint Barmes then doubled and moved to third on a ground out by Travis Snider. Walker then hit a liner straight at Johnson at third. Johnson got his glove on it but couldn't make the catch, allowing the run to score. It was ruled a single and the score was now 4-3. Kuroda managed to escape the inning but the Pirates were now down just a run.

After a scoreless sixth, Kuroda would end up being replaced before the start of the seventh inning. Hirok went six innings, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks, while striking out seven. It got a bit messy towards the end, but overall, it was a pretty decent effort from Kuroda. Matt Daley and Matt Thornton combined for a scoreless top of the seventh.

After the Yankees couldn't do anything in the bottom of the eighth, Adam Warren came in to pitch the top of the eighth. With one out Andrew McCutchen singled to right. Alfonso Soriano dived for it and managed to trap it in his glove. If Soriano missed the ball and let it get past him, McCutchen would have been on third at least. Nevertheless, he just was on first. After Warren got Pedro Alvarez to ground out, Girardi decided to go to David Robertson to try and get a four-out save. Robertson struck out Starling Marte on three pitches to send the game to the ninth inning.

The Yankees couldn't get an insurance run, but Robertson made sure the last three outs were fairly stress-free. Robertson threw a 1-2-3 ninth inning to seal a 4-3 Yankees win.

Hey, there's another game coming in a few minutes! See you soon!

Box score.