GAME 43: Bouncing back from a poor outing in his last start, Vidal Nuno tossed solid six innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Nuno struck out 5 and walked only 1. His one mistake pitch was clocked by Starling Marte for a 2-run homer in the top of the 6th.
After a nail-biting first game, both teams looked flat at the outset of the nightcap. Sloppy play punctuated the first couple of innings, as two New York errors opened the door for a 1-0 Pirates lead in the second. The Bucs returned the favor in the bottom of the second with 2 a fielding and throwing error that allowed 2 runs to score.
After a 3-2 Pirate lead in the top of the 6th, Yangervis Solarte tied it with a 412-ft blast to right. In the top of the 7th, reliever Alfredo Aceves allowed the go-ahead home run to Buc’s left fielder Josh Harrison, a rocket that just cleared the left field fence. 4-3 Pittsburgh. The Pirates added one more in the 9th on a sac fly to right from old friend Chris Stewart. After Solarte’s dinger, the Yankees bats fell silent for the remainder of the game.
Here’s Nuno quoted by in the recap by mlb.com’s Spencer Fordin:
“I was just making my pitches and making the ball move in and out. That helped me last that long,” said Nuno, who credited catcher John Ryan Murphy for his preparation. “It worked out, a good mix by Murphy. We worked together. He had a good game plan. He studies. We talk. We have good communication.”
Solarte went 2-4 with one home run, raising his average to .313. Brian Roberts and Brett Gardner also went 2-4. In the bottom of the second, the Yankess pulled off a safety squeeze, as Brendan Ryan‘s bunt back to pitcher Gerrit Cole scored John Ryan Murphy from third.
Here’s the box score and a recap.
