NEW YORK (AP) — 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, New York (93-68) later clinched home-field advantage throughout the American League playoffs when Cleveland (92-69) lost to Houston. The Yankees won the season series against the Guardians and hold the tiebreaker. 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 AL Division Series at home Oct.
5. 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, Skenes threw 23 pitches to six hitters.
He threw four over 100 mph, including three to Juan Soto and Aaron Judge. “He was outstanding,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “We knew it was going to be a shorter start.
This is a really tough lineup and he executed pitches throughout the first six hitters.” 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 fin.