Skenes pitches 2 perfect innings in Yankee Stadium debut, Pirates hit 5 homers in 9-4 win
Paul Skenes pitched two perfect innings in his Yankee Stadium debut and the Pittsburgh Pirates hit five homers, including four off rookie Luis Gil, in a 9-4 win Saturday that delayed New York from clinching home-field advantage throughout the American League playoffs.
Yasmani Grandal and Nick Gonzales hit solo homers in the first four innings off Gil (15-7). Rookie Billy Cook in the fifth and Jared Triolo in the sixth added two-run drives. Nick Yorke hit a two-run homer in the ninth against Will Warren.
New York has lost four of five and opens the Division Series at home on Oct. 5. The Yankees would be assured of home-field advantage in the League Championship Series by winning their regular-season finale or by Cleveland losing one of its last two.
Aaron Judge followed his third game off this season with his third five-strikeout game, his first since May 5, 2021.
In front of 46,069, New York's 17th home sellout crowd, Skenes threw 23 pitches to six hitters. He threw four over 100 mph, including three to Juan Soto and Aaron Judge.
With girlfriend and LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne in the stands, Skenes threw a 99.8 mph fastball on the high, outside corner that Soto took for a called third strike. Judge struck out swinging at a sweeper that was outside.
A top contender for NL Rookie of the Year, the 22-year-old right-hander finished 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA in 23 starts and 133 innings — 29 innings shy of qualifying for the National League ERA title. He struck out 170 and walked 32.
Gil allowed six runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings, finishing with a 3.50 ERA. He had only allowed 14 homers in his first 28 starts.
Gonzales homered for the second straight game, a drive after his bat slipped away taking a practice swing in the on-deck circle. Yorke clanged his second career homer off the left-field foul pole.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. broke up Pittsburgh's no-hit bid in the fifth with his 11th homer since being acquired from the Marlins on July 27 and then added an RBI single in the eighth. Soto hit an RBI single but ended the seventh by overrunning second base.
Mike Burrows (1-0), who underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on April 26, 2023, followed Skenes and threw 68 pitches over 3 1/3 innings to win in his major league debut. David Bednar struck out Chisholm to strand the bases loaded in the sixth.
Former Yankee Aroldis Chapman struck out Judge and retired Austin Wells with the bases loaded for his 14th save in 19 chances.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Yankees: 1B Anthony Rizzo fractured the fourth and fifth fingers of his right hand when he was hit by RHP Ryan Borucki's 88.2 mph slider in the seventh. Rizzo was replaced by INF Oswaldo Cabrera starting the eighth. Rizzo's postseason status is uncertain.
UP NEXT
LHP Bailey Falter (8-9, 4.26) closes the regular season for the Pirates. RHP Clarke Schmidt (5-5, 2.55), a candidate for New York's postseason rotation, makes his fifth start since returning from a strained lat that sidelined him for more than three months.
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