Paul Skenes made an impressive debut at Yankee Stadium, pitching two flawless innings, while the Pittsburgh Pirates hit five home runs in a 9-4 victory on Saturday.
With this win, New York (93-68) secured home-field advantage for the American League playoffs when Cleveland (92-69) lost to Houston. The Yankees also won the season series against the Guardians, giving them the tiebreaker.
Yasmani Grandal and Nick Gonzales each hit solo home runs off rookie Luis Gil (15-7) in the first four innings. In the fifth inning, rookie Billy Cook hit a two-run homer, and Jared Triolo added another two-run shot in the sixth. Nick Yorke finished with a two-run homer in the ninth against Will Warren.
New York has struggled recently, losing four out of their last five games, and will start the AL Division Series at home on October 5.
Aaron Judge followed his third game off this season with his third five-strikeout game, the first since May 5, 2021.
In front of a crowd of 46,069, marking New York’s 17th home sellout, Skenes threw 23 pitches to six batters. He hit over 100 mph on four pitches, including three against Juan Soto and Aaron Judge.
“He was outstanding,” said Pirates manager Derek Shelton. “We knew it would be a shorter start. This lineup is really tough, and he executed his pitches well against the first six hitters.”
With his girlfriend, LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne, watching from the stands, Skenes struck out Soto with a 99.8 mph fastball on the outside corner. Judge swung and missed at a sweeper that was outside.
As a leading candidate for NL Rookie of the Year, the 22-year-old right-hander finished the season with an 11-3 record and a 1.96 ERA in 23 starts and 133 innings—29 innings shy of qualifying for the National League ERA title. He recorded 170 strikeouts and 32 walks.
“It was cool, definitely glad to be able to finish the season,” Skenes said. “It’s cool to do it here, cool to do it against this lineup.”
Skenes is the first rookie pitcher to have a season with a sub-2.00 ERA and at least 23 starts since Scott Perry with 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 given up 14 home runs in his first 28 starts.
“He’s had a great year,” Wells said. “Being a rookie starting pitcher for the Yankees and putting up those numbers, he’s been amazing.”
Gonzales hit a homer for the second game in a row, hitting it after his bat slipped during a practice swing in the on-deck circle. Yorke hit 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. The fact that we had good at-bats and were able to grind it out, I was really proud of our group,” Shelton said.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. broke up Pittsburgh’s no-hit attempt in the fifth with his 11th homer since being traded from the Marlins on July 27. He also 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 had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on 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 leave 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.
