PITTSBURGH -- Chris Carter
spent most of the winter waiting for the phone to ring and a good
portion of the spring waiting for the power that produced 41 home runs
with Milwaukee last season to show up for the New York Yankees.
With one swing of the bat on Saturday, that power was finally on display. Carter delivered a pinch-hit, three-run homer in the eighth inning off reliever Felipe Rivero to lift the Yankees to an 11-5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Despite tying for the National League lead in home runs in 2016, Carter languished on the free-agent market and didn't sign with New York until mid-February. The transition from starter to platoon player has been bumpy. Carter stepped to the plate in the eighth hitting .148 on the season with no homers and just one extra-base hit.
That number doubled when Carter sent an 86 mph changeup from Rivero (1-1) beyond the center-field fence to put New York up to stay.
"This is right up there," Carter said. "First time with the Yankees. Big situation. We needed it late in the game and I'm happy to come through when we needed it."
Starlin Castro added a three-run shot of his own and Aaron Judge hit his team-high sixth home run for New York, a 457-foot blast in the ninth. Ronald Torreyes had four hits and two RBI.
Dellin Betances (2-1) earned the win in relief, stranding a runner at third in the seventh to preserve a tie before New York took advantage of some sloppy Pittsburgh defense in the eighth.
Andrew McCutchen hit his third home run and had a sacrifice fly for Pittsburgh. David Freese added a solo home run, but the Pirates fell apart late.
Austin Romine reached on a two-out error by Pittsburgh second baseman Adam Frazier before Torreyes singled to give Carter a chance.
"It makes you feel like you're a big part of the team when you win a game like that for a team," New York manager Joe Girardi said. "It can get a guy going. For him, it was big for him, and it was big for us."
The rally continued when a misplayed fly ball by McCutchen and left fielder Gregory Polanco allowed Jacoby Ellsbury to race to third base. Ellsbury scored on a wild pitch, and Aaron Hicks and Chase Headley hit back-to-back doubles to cap the five-run outburst.
All five runs were unearned. The Pirates have allowed a major league-high 15 unearned runs this season.
"I think our overall defense has got to tighten up," manager Clint Hurdle said. "The problematic play tonight was at second base. The inning Rivero's up there, that's three outs. We're off the field. It didn't happen."
The late surge seemed unlikely early as New York struggled to get anything going against Pittsburgh starter Jameson Taillon. The 24-year-old who has shown ace stuff at the start of his second season held New York without a hit until consecutive two-out singles in the fifth but came undone in the sixth, leaving after giving up the home run to Castro and a double to Judge. Taillon allowed a season-high four runs (one more than he'd given up in his first three starts combined) over 5 1/3 innings, striking out four and walking three as his ERA rose from 0.90 to 2.13.
New York starter Michael Pineda escaped with a no-decision despite giving up multiple home runs on the road for the first time in 43 starts. McCutchen went deep off him in the first and Freese reached the seats in right-center in the third. Pineda was pulled in favor of a pinch hitter during New York's extended rally in the sixth, allowing three runs on five hits with two walks -- double the amount he'd issued all season -- and six strikeouts.
LONG GONE
Judge's massive drive was his second of the week. He drilled a 448-foot homer against the White Sox on Wednesday, though Girardi wondered if somebody messed up the math and shorted Judge a few feet. Girardi didn't quibble with the estimate on Saturday. Then again, he might not have seen it land.
"Sometimes these guys hit the ball so far, I can't follow it that far," Girardi said.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Yankees: C Gary Sanchez did some "tee and toss" batting practice as he continues to rehab the strained right shoulder that has kept him out since April 8. Girardi said the team is more worried about the shoulder being an issue when Sanchez throws than when he swings.
Pirates: C Francisco Cervelli was removed in the ninth due to an unspecified health concern.
UP NEXT
Yankees: Rookie LHP Jordan Montgomery makes his third career start on Sunday. Montgomery (1-0, 4.22 ERA) earned his first victory after allowing two runs over six-plus innings last Monday against the Chicago White Sox.
Pirates: Ex-Yankee Ivan Nova faces his former team for the first time in the series finale. Nova (1-2, 2.25) went 53-39 in six-plus seasons with New York before being traded to Pittsburgh last summer.
---
For more AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
New York Yankees
With one swing of the bat on Saturday, that power was finally on display. Carter delivered a pinch-hit, three-run homer in the eighth inning off reliever Felipe Rivero to lift the Yankees to an 11-5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Despite tying for the National League lead in home runs in 2016, Carter languished on the free-agent market and didn't sign with New York until mid-February. The transition from starter to platoon player has been bumpy. Carter stepped to the plate in the eighth hitting .148 on the season with no homers and just one extra-base hit.
That number doubled when Carter sent an 86 mph changeup from Rivero (1-1) beyond the center-field fence to put New York up to stay.
"This is right up there," Carter said. "First time with the Yankees. Big situation. We needed it late in the game and I'm happy to come through when we needed it."
Starlin Castro added a three-run shot of his own and Aaron Judge hit his team-high sixth home run for New York, a 457-foot blast in the ninth. Ronald Torreyes had four hits and two RBI.
Dellin Betances (2-1) earned the win in relief, stranding a runner at third in the seventh to preserve a tie before New York took advantage of some sloppy Pittsburgh defense in the eighth.
Andrew McCutchen hit his third home run and had a sacrifice fly for Pittsburgh. David Freese added a solo home run, but the Pirates fell apart late.
Austin Romine reached on a two-out error by Pittsburgh second baseman Adam Frazier before Torreyes singled to give Carter a chance.
"It makes you feel like you're a big part of the team when you win a game like that for a team," New York manager Joe Girardi said. "It can get a guy going. For him, it was big for him, and it was big for us."
The rally continued when a misplayed fly ball by McCutchen and left fielder Gregory Polanco allowed Jacoby Ellsbury to race to third base. Ellsbury scored on a wild pitch, and Aaron Hicks and Chase Headley hit back-to-back doubles to cap the five-run outburst.
All five runs were unearned. The Pirates have allowed a major league-high 15 unearned runs this season.
"I think our overall defense has got to tighten up," manager Clint Hurdle said. "The problematic play tonight was at second base. The inning Rivero's up there, that's three outs. We're off the field. It didn't happen."
The late surge seemed unlikely early as New York struggled to get anything going against Pittsburgh starter Jameson Taillon. The 24-year-old who has shown ace stuff at the start of his second season held New York without a hit until consecutive two-out singles in the fifth but came undone in the sixth, leaving after giving up the home run to Castro and a double to Judge. Taillon allowed a season-high four runs (one more than he'd given up in his first three starts combined) over 5 1/3 innings, striking out four and walking three as his ERA rose from 0.90 to 2.13.
New York starter Michael Pineda escaped with a no-decision despite giving up multiple home runs on the road for the first time in 43 starts. McCutchen went deep off him in the first and Freese reached the seats in right-center in the third. Pineda was pulled in favor of a pinch hitter during New York's extended rally in the sixth, allowing three runs on five hits with two walks -- double the amount he'd issued all season -- and six strikeouts.
LONG GONE
Judge's massive drive was his second of the week. He drilled a 448-foot homer against the White Sox on Wednesday, though Girardi wondered if somebody messed up the math and shorted Judge a few feet. Girardi didn't quibble with the estimate on Saturday. Then again, he might not have seen it land.
"Sometimes these guys hit the ball so far, I can't follow it that far," Girardi said.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Yankees: C Gary Sanchez did some "tee and toss" batting practice as he continues to rehab the strained right shoulder that has kept him out since April 8. Girardi said the team is more worried about the shoulder being an issue when Sanchez throws than when he swings.
Pirates: C Francisco Cervelli was removed in the ninth due to an unspecified health concern.
UP NEXT
Yankees: Rookie LHP Jordan Montgomery makes his third career start on Sunday. Montgomery (1-0, 4.22 ERA) earned his first victory after allowing two runs over six-plus innings last Monday against the Chicago White Sox.
Pirates: Ex-Yankee Ivan Nova faces his former team for the first time in the series finale. Nova (1-2, 2.25) went 53-39 in six-plus seasons with New York before being traded to Pittsburgh last summer.
---
For more AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| New York - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Jameson Taillon pitching for Pittsburgh | NYY | PIT |
| Ellsbury grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Hicks bunt grounded out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Headley struck out looking. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Pittsburgh - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Michael Pineda pitching for New York | NYY | PIT |
| Frazier grounded out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Bell struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| McCutchen homered to center (403 feet). | 0 | 1 |
| Polanco grounded out to pitcher. | 0 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Jameson Taillon pitching for Pittsburgh | NYY | PIT |
| Castro walked. | 0 | 1 |
| Judge grounded into double play, third to second to first, Castro out at second. | 0 | 1 |
| Bird flied out to left. | 0 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Pittsburgh - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Michael Pineda pitching for New York | NYY | PIT |
| Freese struck out swinging. | 0 | 1 |
| Jaso struck out swinging. | 0 | 1 |
| Cervelli grounded out to third. | 0 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Jameson Taillon pitching for Pittsburgh | NYY | PIT |
| Romine lined out to right. | 0 | 1 |
| Torreyes grounded out to second. | 0 | 1 |
| Pineda struck out looking. | 0 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Pittsburgh - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Michael Pineda pitching for New York | NYY | PIT |
| Mercer lined out to left. | 0 | 1 |
| Taillon struck out swinging. | 0 | 1 |
| Frazier walked. | 0 | 1 |
| Bell singled to right, Frazier to second. | 0 | 1 |
| McCutchen struck out swinging. | 0 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Jameson Taillon pitching for Pittsburgh | NYY | PIT |
| Ellsbury grounded out to first. | 0 | 1 |
| Hicks walked. | 0 | 1 |
| Headley struck out swinging, Hicks stole second. | 0 | 1 |
| Castro flied out to right. | 0 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Pittsburgh - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Michael Pineda pitching for New York | NYY | PIT |
| Polanco flied out to center. | 0 | 1 |
| Freese homered to right center (398 feet). | 0 | 2 |
| Jaso grounded out to first. | 0 | 2 |
| Cervelli flied out to right. | 0 | 2 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Jameson Taillon pitching for Pittsburgh | NYY | PIT |
| Judge grounded out to third. | 0 | 2 |
| Bird flied out to left. | 0 | 2 |
| Romine singled to left. | 0 | 2 |
| Torreyes singled to left, Romine to second. | 0 | 2 |
| Pineda struck out swinging. | 0 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Pittsburgh - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Michael Pineda pitching for New York | NYY | PIT |
| Mercer grounded out to third. | 0 | 2 |
| Taillon singled to right. | 0 | 2 |
| Frazier singled to right, Taillon to second. | 0 | 2 |
| Bell walked, Taillon to third, Frazier to second. | 0 | 2 |
| McCutchen hit sacrifice fly to right, Taillon scored, Frazier to third. | 0 | 3 |
| Polanco struck out swinging. | 0 | 3 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Jameson Taillon pitching for Pittsburgh | NYY | PIT |
| Ellsbury reached on infield single to second. | 0 | 3 |
| Hicks walked, Ellsbury to second. | 0 | 3 |
| Headley grounded out to first, Ellsbury to third, Hicks to second. | 0 | 3 |
| Castro homered to left (402 feet), Ellsbury and Hicks scored. | 3 | 3 |
| Judge doubled to deep center. | 3 | 3 |
| Nicasio relieved Taillon. | 3 | 3 |
| Bird hit by pitch. | 3 | 3 |
| Romine singled to shallow center, Judge to third, Bird to second. | 3 | 3 |
| Torreyes doubled to right, Judge and Bird scored, Romine to third. | 5 | 3 |
| Holliday hit for Pineda. | 5 | 3 |
| Holliday grounded out to pitcher. | 5 | 3 |
| LeBlanc relieved Nicasio. | 5 | 3 |
| Ellsbury flied out to center. | 5 | 3 |
| 5 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Pittsburgh - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Jonathan Holder pitching for New York | NYY | PIT |
| Holder relieved Pineda. | 5 | 3 |
| Freese struck out swinging. | 5 | 3 |
| Jaso grounded out to second. | 5 | 3 |
| Cervelli doubled to deep right center. | 5 | 3 |
| Mercer singled to center, Cervelli scored. | 5 | 4 |
| Clippard relieved Holder. | 5 | 4 |
| Osuna hit for LeBlanc. | 5 | 4 |
| Osuna hit by pitch, Mercer to second. | 5 | 4 |
| Frazier singled to left, Mercer scored, Osuna to second. | 5 | 5 |
| Bell struck out looking. | 5 | 5 |
| 2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Felipe Rivero pitching for Pittsburgh | NYY | PIT |
| Rivero relieved LeBlanc. | 5 | 5 |
| Osuna at first base. | 5 | 5 |
| Hicks grounded out to shortstop. | 5 | 5 |
| Headley popped out to first. | 5 | 5 |
| Castro struck out swinging. | 5 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Pittsburgh - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Tyler Clippard pitching for New York | NYY | PIT |
| McCutchen walked. | 5 | 5 |
| McCutchen stole second. | 5 | 5 |
| Polanco grounded out to shortstop, McCutchen to third. | 5 | 5 |
| Betances relieved Clippard. | 5 | 5 |
| Freese flied out to right. | 5 | 5 |
| Jaso grounded out to second. | 5 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Felipe Rivero pitching for Pittsburgh | NYY | PIT |
| Judge flied out to center. | 5 | 5 |
| Bird flied out to right. | 5 | 5 |
| Romine safe at first on error by second baseman Frazier. | 5 | 5 |
| Torreyes singled to center, Romine to second. | 5 | 5 |
| Carter hit for Betances. | 5 | 5 |
| Carter homered to center (422 feet), Romine and Torreyes scored. | 8 | 5 |
| Ellsbury safe at third on error by center fielder McCutchen. | 8 | 5 |
| Frazier in right field. | 8 | 5 |
| Harrison at second base. | 8 | 5 |
| Bastardo relieved Rivero. | 8 | 5 |
| Ellsbury scored on Bastardo's wild pitch. | 9 | 5 |
| Hicks hit a ground rule double to right. | 9 | 5 |
| Headley doubled to deep left center, Hicks scored. | 10 | 5 |
| Castro grounded out to third. | 10 | 5 |
| 5 Runs, 4 Hits, 2 Errors | ||
| Pittsburgh - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Bryan Mitchell pitching for New York | NYY | PIT |
| Mitchell relieved Betances. | 10 | 5 |
| Cervelli grounded out to shortstop. | 10 | 5 |
| Mercer lined out to right. | 10 | 5 |
| Osuna struck out looking. | 10 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Antonio Bastardo pitching for Pittsburgh | NYY | PIT |
| Stewart catching. | 10 | 5 |
| Judge homered to left center (460 feet). | 11 | 5 |
| Bird struck out swinging. | 11 | 5 |
| Romine popped out to second. | 11 | 5 |
| Torreyes singled to center. | 11 | 5 |
| Kozma hit for Mitchell. | 11 | 5 |
| Kozma popped out to second. | 11 | 5 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Pittsburgh - Bottom of 9th | SCORE | |
| Aroldis Chapman pitching for New York | NYY | PIT |
| Chapman relieved Mitchell. | 11 | 5 |
| Frazier grounded out to third. | 11 | 5 |
| Harrison struck out swinging. | 11 | 5 |
| McCutchen walked. | 11 | 5 |
| Polanco popped out to second. | 11 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
New York Yankees
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ellsbury CF | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | .323 | .373 | .403 |
| Hicks LF | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 20 | .323 | .476 | .774 |
| Headley 3B | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 23 | .362 | .456 | .603 |
| Castro 2B | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 17 | .364 | .408 | .591 |
| Judge RF | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 21 | .281 | .349 | .667 |
| Bird 1B | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17 | .111 | .216 | .244 |
| Romine C | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | .324 | .381 | .459 |
| Torreyes SS | 5 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | .296 | .296 | .444 |
| Pineda P | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
a-Holliday PH
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .217 | .368 | .391 |
Holder P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
Clippard P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
Betances P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
b-Carter PH
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .179 | .226 | .357 |
Mitchell P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
c-Kozma PH
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | .125 | .222 | .125 |
Chapman P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Totals | 41 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 165 | |||
| a-grounded to pitcher for M Pineda in the 6th b-homered to center for D Betances in the 8th c-popped out to second for B Mitchell in the 9th | ||||||||||
| BATTING 2B: Judge (2, Taillon); Torreyes (3, Nicasio); Hicks (2, Bastardo); Headley (5, Bastardo) HR: Castro (4, 6th inning off Taillon 2 on, 1 Out); Carter (1, 8th inning off Rivero 2 on, 2 Out); Judge (6, 9th inning off Bastardo 0 on, 0 Out) RBI: Castro 3 (13), Torreyes 2 (13), Carter 3 (6), Headley (7), Judge (13) 2-out RBI: Carter 3, Headley GIDP: Judge Yankees RISP: 5-11 (Headley 1-2, Holliday 0-1, Torreyes 1-1, Romine 1-1, Carter 1-1, Castro 1-3, Ellsbury 0-1, Pineda 0-1) Team LOB: 7 | ||||||||||
| BASERUNNING SB: Hicks (2, 2nd base off Taillon/Cervelli) | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA |
| Attendance | 36,140 (94.2% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 3:17 |
| Weather | 53 degrees, cloudy |
| Wind | 8 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Jim Wolf, First Base - Chad Whitson, Second Base - Dan Iassogna, Third Base - Sam Holbrook |
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