Pirates 3 - 4 Yankees
Final
  for this game

Yankees edge Pirates in twinbill opener

May 18, 2014 - 8:53 PM Bronx, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Mark Teixeira singled in two runs during a three-run first inning and the New York Yankees went on to earn a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of a traditional doubleheader on Sunday.

Brian McCann added an RBI single in the first and Brett Gardner contributed a run-scoring double for New York, which has won four in a row on the heels of a four-game skid. The Yankees clubbed five homers in Saturday's 7-1 win to start the series, but on Sunday managed just five singles and a double in the opener of the twinbill that was caused by Friday's rainout.

Hiroki Kuroda (3-3) went the first six innings in the victory and surrendered three runs on five hits with two walks and seven strikeouts. Matt Daley, Matt Thornton and Adam Warren combined for five outs before David Robertson retired all four batters he faced to earn his eighth save in as many opportunities.

Charlie Morton (0-6) struggled at the start for Pittsburgh and was charged with four runs on six hits with a walk and six strikeouts in seven innings.

Neil Walker and Tony Sanchez homered for the Pirates, who have lost three straight and five of their last six.

Walker gave Pittsburgh the lead in the first when he clubbed a pitch into the right field seats for his ninth home run, but the Yankees answered with three in the bottom of the inning before Morton could record an out.

Gardner led off with a walk and Derek Jeter beat out a bunt down the third base line for a hit. After Jacoby Ellsbury was hit by a pitch, Teixeira lined a single into right-center field to chase home two runs and McCann singled home Ellsbury.

Morton limited the damage as he fanned Alfonso Soriano before Yangervis Solarte grounded into an inning-ending double play, but New York tacked on another run in the second. Kelly Johnson led off with a single, stole second and raced to third when the throw went into center field and scored on Gardner's double to right center.

That was all the offense for the Yankees, as Morton settled down. He allowed only one more hit, a two-out single in the fourth by Zoilo Almonte, who was promptly picked off at first.

The Pirates, after leaving the bases loaded in the top of the fourth, chipped away with a pair of runs in the fifth. Sanchez led off with his second homer of the season and Walker singled home Clint Barmes, who had doubled.

"They gave me the lead and I wanted to hold it," said Kuroda through his translator.

Daley retired the only two batters he faced in the Pittsburgh seventh and Thornton struck out Jose Tabata. Andrew McCutchen singled with one out in the eighth against Warren and took second on a groundout, but was left stranded when Robertson came on and caught Starling Marte looking at a third strike.

Robertson then retired the side in order in the ninth.

Game Notes

The Pirates have lost each of their eight games at Yankee Stadium in interleague play ... Kuroda improved to 6-1 lifetime against the Pirates.






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