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 finished 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA in 23 starts and 133 innings — 29 innings shy of qualifying for the National League ERA title. He struck out 170 and walked 32.
“It was cool definitely glad to be able to finish the season,” Skenes said. “Cool to do it here, cool to do it against this lineup.”
Skenes is the first rookie pitcher with a sub-2.00 ERA and at least 23 starts in a season since Scott Perry for the 1918 Philadelphia Athletics, according to STATS,
“I wish I saw some more pitches,” Yankees catcher Austin Wells said. “He looked good out there and got six outs and that’s all I really saw.”
Gil allowed six runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings, finishing with a 3.50 ERA. He had only allowed 14 homers in his first 28 starts.
“He’s had a great year,” Wells said. “Being a rookie starting pitcher for the Yankees and putting up what he did, he’s been amazing.”
Gonzales homered for the second straight game, a drive after his bat slipped away taking a practice swing in the on-deck circle. Yorke clanged his second career homer off the left-field foul pole.
“The guy that started for them is probably going to be the Rookie of the Year in the American League and is a special young arm, special pitcher and the fact that we had good at-bats and was able to grind, I was really proud of our group,” Shelton said.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. broke up Pittsburgh’s no-hit bid in the fifth with his 11th homer since being acquired from the Marlins on July 27 and then added an RBI double in the eighth. Soto hit an RBI single but ended the seventh by overrunning second base.
Mike Burrows (1-0), who underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow April 26, 2023, followed Skenes and threw 68 pitches over 3 1/3 innings to win in his major league debut. David Bednar struck out Chisholm to strand the bases loaded in the sixth.
Former Yankee Aroldis Chapman struck out Judge and retired Wells with the bases loaded for his 14th save in 19 chances.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Yankees: 1B Anthony Rizzo fractured the fourth and fifth fingers of his right hand when he was hit by RHP Ryan Borucki’s 88.2 mph slider in the seventh. Rizzo was replaced by INF Oswaldo Cabrera starting the eighth. Rizzo’s postseason status is uncertain.
UP NEXT
LHP Bailey Falter (8-9, 4.26) closes the regular season for the Pirates. RHP Clarke Schmidt (5-5, 2.55), a candidate for New York’s postseason rotation, makes his fifth start since returning a strained lat that sidelined him for more than three months.
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