Jared Triolo hit a tiebreaking RBI single with one out in the 10th inning as the Pittsburgh Pirates recovered from losing a three-run lead and outlasted the host New York Yankees for a 5-3 victory in the opener of a split doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon.
The Pirates won for the ninth time in 13 games and started their third doubleheader this month by stringing together a rally off Fernando Cruz (4-4).
Automatic runner Nick Gonzales advanced to third on a flyball by Jacob Gonzalez, putting runners on first and third when Cruz walked pinch hitter Marcell Ozuna. Gonzales scored when Triolo blooped a 1-2 splitter in front of left fielder Cody Bellinger.
The Pirates added another run when pinch runner Billy Cook scored on a single to center field by Jake Mangum.
Mason Montgomery (3-3) struck out two in the ninth after getting the final out of the eighth. Gregory Soto stranded automatic runner Amed Rosario at third in a 1-2-3 10th for his 13th save in 18 chances.
Gonzalez hit a two-run homer off Gerrit Cole in the fifth after the former Cy Young award winner retired the first 14 hitters. Gonzales ended Cole’s early perfect game bid with a single then homered in the seventh for a 3-0 lead.
Ben Rice hit a tying three-run homer off lefty Carmen Mlodzinski with one out in the seventh after Ryan McMahon doubled and Austin Wells walked. Rice joined Houston’s Yordan Alvarez, Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber and Colorado’s Hunter Goodman as the fourth player to reach 30 homers this season when he launched a 3-1 fastball into the second deck in right.
Cole allowed three runs on four hits, walked none and notched his 64th career double-digit strikeout game. He allowed Gonzalez’s homer on a 1-1 changeup and Gonzales homered off Cole’s 1-0 fastball.
Pittsburgh right-hander Mitch Keller gave up three hits in five innings as the Yankees started eight left-handed hitters, including top prospect Spencer Jones. Keller struck out six and walked two during his third scoreless outing this season.
