Buccos Beat Binder-Bollixed Bronx Bombers

The Yankees began a 3-game Interleague series last night, against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. The best thing I can say about last night's game is that I'm glad they got it out of their system before going to Boston on Tuesday.

CC Sabathia made his 4th start of the season for the Yankees, and, unlike the 1st 3, he didn't have it. He gave up 2 runs in the 1st inning, and 2 more in the 2nd, including a leadoff home run by Jordy Mercer and another homer by Josh Bell, and the Yankees never recovered. He only lasted 5 innings.

The Yankees scored a run in the top of the 3rd, when Brett Gardner led off with a walk, and Chase Headley doubled him home. They closed it to 4-3 in the 5th, on singles by Jacoby Ellsbury and Aaron Judge, and an error that allowed Greg Bird to reach 1st and the runners to score. Things were looking up.

But that would be as close as the Yankees got. An error by Starlin Castro in the 7th led to 2 more Pirate runs, unearned. But you can blame Joe Girardi for not letting CC pitch the full 7, as he hadn't allowed a hit since the 2nd, but he replaced CC with Adam Warren for the 6th, and Warren walked a batter in the 7th to start the next Pittsburgh scoring.

The loss isn't Girardi's fault, but he did kill any chance of a comeback. When is somebody gonna burn that damn binder?

The Yankees had men on 2nd and 3rd in the 8th, and 1st and 2nd in the 9th, but couldn't get them home. Pirates 6, Yankees 3. WP: Juan Nicasio (1-2). SV: Tony Watson (5). LP: Sabathia (2-1).

The series continues at 4:00 this afternoon. Michael Pineda starts against Jameson Tallion.

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