The New York Yankees defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-5 last night in the opening game of a three-game series. The Yankees scored four runs in the first inning off Pirates starting pitcher Braxton Ashcraft, but battled back to take a 5-4 lead in the top of the third inning. Ashcraft allowed the game away, allowing four more runs in the bottom of the third.
The Pirates bullpen completed the game with five scoreless innings. Ashcraft allowed eight runs, seven earned over his three innings. He allowed two home runs, both to the Yankees Jazz Chisholm, and saw his ERA climb to 3.95.
Rookie Wilber Dotel returned from the Injured List and pitched three scoreless innings, striking out five. Esmerlyn Valdez hit his 13th home run of the year, a two-run shout in the third inning. Ryan O’Hearn had two of the Bucs nine hits.
The Pirates had two errors in the game, both on the same play in the first inning by third baseman Nick Gonzales and left-fielder Bryan Reynolds.
The two teams play again tonight at 7:05pm. WISR pre-game begins at 6:40pm. Bubba Chandler will start for the Bucs. He is 3-8 with a 4.77 ERA this season.