Charlie Morton continues to search for his first win of the season despite having a 3.45 ERA as the Pirates (17-25) fell to the Yankees (23-19) 4-3 in the first game of a Sunday doubleheader.
Morton gave up another big inning — sixth start out of nine that he has done that — in the bottom of the first when the Yankees loaded the bases with no out. Mark Teixeira then singled in two runs and Brian McCann singled in another to make it 3-1. The barrage followed a Neil Walker solo home run — his eighth of the season — in the top of the opening frame.
Following a Brett Gardner RBI double in the second, Morton calmed down as he allowed a single baserunner the rest of the way, but the damage had been done.
The Pirates had a chance to get back into the game in the fourth with the bases loaded and two out, but Gaby Sanchez grounded out to end the inning. They did however, plate a couple in the fifth when Tony Sanchez led the inning off with a homer to left. Clint Barmes followed with a double and scored on a Walker RBI infield single.
The Pirates had one final chance to tie things up in the eighth with Andrew McCutchen on second and two outs. Yankee manager Joe Girardi went to the pen and brought in his closer David Robinson to try for the four-out save. The plan worked as Robinson struck out Starling Marte looking — his fourth strikeout of the afternoon — and then pitched a perfect ninth with two strikeouts to end the game.
Final Score: Yankees 4, Pirates 3
Starters Lines
Morton (L, 0-6): 7 IN, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 6 K’s. 114 Pitches (74 Strikes).
Kuroda (W, 3-3): 6 IN, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 7 K’s, 1 HR. 98 Pitches (58 Strikes).
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(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
