• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Pirates beat Yankees to earn twinbill split

May 19, 2014 - 4:01 AM Bronx, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Josh Harrison's seventh-inning solo homer provided the go-ahead run as Pittsburgh claimed a 5-3 victory over the New York Yankees in the back end of a twinbill Sunday at Yankee Stadium.

Starling Marte added a two-run shot, while Chris Stewart knocked in a pair of runs for the Pirates, who managed to avoid a sweep.

Gerrit Cole (4-3) hung in just long enough for the win, allowing seven hits and three runs with eight strikeouts and two walks over six innings.

Yangervis Solarte went deep as part of his 2-for-4 performance for the Yankees, who had taken the opener by a 4-3 count. Brendan Ryan also drove in a run in defeat.

"You can always look at the big picture," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Of course you get greedy when you win the first two games of the series and you've got a chance to win the third game."

Alfredo Aceves (0-2) gave up Harrison's homer. Vidal Nuno worked the first six frames, giving up three runs -- two earned -- on six hits while fanning five.

Solarte's one-out solo shot pulled the Yankees even in the last of the sixth, but Aceves served up Harrison's homer -- which landed just over the wall in left -- with two away in the seventh to give the Bucs a 4-3 edge.

"I just saw a fastball and I was ready to hit," Harrison said of his homer off Aceves.

The Yanks put runners on second and third with two down in the home half, but Tony Watson induced a rally-killing pop out from Mark Teixeira.

Pittsburgh picked up an insurance run in the ninth, as Jordy Mercer led off with a double, was sacrificed to third and scored on Stewart's fly to right.

Mark Melancon then earned his sixth save by retiring the side in order.

Stewart singled home Marte in the second, but New York responded with two in the bottom of the frame thanks to a pair of defensive gaffes. Solarte singled, then after the next two batters fanned, John Ryan Murphy singled and Solarte raced home on Pirates outfielder Travis Snider's error. Ryan then reached on a bunt, when Cole threw wild to first and Murphy was able to cross the plate.

Andrew McCutchen singled with one down in the sixth and came in on Marte's liner to right which gave the visitors a 3-2 edge.

Game Notes

The victory gave Pittsburgh its first victory in the Bronx during interleague play after eight straight losses ... Pirates outfielder Jose Tabata left the game in the first after suffering tightness in his right hamstring ... Marte eventually departed in the eighth with an apparent leg injury.