Alex Verdugo hit a tiebreaking two-run single with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning and the New York Yankees held on for a 6-4 win against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates in their regular-season finale on Sunday afternoon.
Trent Grisham had a two-run home run and an RBI single and Gleyber Torres had two doubles and scored twice for the Yankees (94-68), who will open the American League Division Series at home next Saturday.
New York starter Clarke Schmidt surrendered four runs and three hits in four-plus innings. The right-hander struck out five and walked four.
Luke Weaver (7-3) pitched a scoreless eighth inning to earn the win. Clay Holmes threw a perfect ninth for his 30th save.
Pittsburgh starter Bailey Falter allowed four runs and four hits in three innings. The left-hander had three walks and did not record a strikeout.
Joey Bart had two hits, an RBI and a run and Joshua Palacios drove in two runs for the Pirates (76-86), who finished last in the National League Central.
Carmen Mlodzinski relieved Colin Holderman (3-6) after he hit Austin Wells with a pitch with two outs in the eighth. Mlodzinski walked the next two hitters to load the bases before Verdugo rolled a single through the right side to give the Yankees a 6-4 lead.
Torres greeted Falter by doubling to center on his first pitch. Grisham, who replaced Aaron Judge in the lineup after the start of the game was delayed about 90 minutes because of rain, then pulled the first pitch he saw over the fence in right for a two-run homer.
The Pirates loaded the bases with one out in the third on a hit batter, a walk and an infield single off the glove of first baseman Ben Rice. Palacios then pulled a two-run double into the right field corner to tie the score 2-2.
Jared Triolo followed with a sacrifice fly to move Pittsburgh ahead 3-2.
Torres’ second double of the game put runners on second and third with no outs in the bottom of the third. Grisham followed with an RBI single through the right side to tie it back up at 3-3.
Another run scored on a double-play grounder by Giancarlo Stanton to move New York back in front 4-3.
Schmidt departed after walking Bryan Reynolds to start the fifth. Mark Leiter Jr. entered and walked Oneil Cruz before giving up Bart’s RBI double into the left field corner to tie it 4-4.
–Field Level Media
