Yankees Seal Regular Season Finale with a 6-4 Victory Over Pirates, Thanks to Verdugo’s Eighth-Inning Heroics

In a thrilling conclusion to the regular season, Alex Verdugo, the New York Yankees’ outfielder, drove in a decisive two-run single in the eighth inning, helping the Yankees secure a 6-4 triumph over the Pittsburgh Pirates this Sunday. Despite experiencing a rough second half, Verdugo rose to the occasion, blasting a fastball from Pirates’ Carmen Mlodzinski into right field, enabling Austin Wells and Jasson Domínguez to score.

The Crucial Eighth Inning

The decisive play was set up when Wells was hit by a pitch from Colin Holderman (3-6), followed by a walk earned by Domínguez. After Jon Berti also drew a walk, Verdugo seized the moment, delivering his fourth hit in 24 at-bats with bases loaded, breaking the 4-4 deadlock.

Verdugo, who joined the Yankees from Boston in December, concluded his debut season with a .233 batting average. “Often, it’s not about the glamorous, big hits,” said Yankees manager Aaron Boone. “It’s about grinding out at-bats, earning a walk, setting the table. We saw three excellent examples of that here.”

Stellar Performances Secure Victory

This marked Verdugo’s second hit this season that provided his team with a lead in the eighth inning or later. Meanwhile, Luke Weaver (7-3) left a runner stranded in the eighth, and Clay Holmes earned his 30th save in 43 opportunities, striking out Oneil Cruz with a sweeping finish. This was Holmes’ first save since his Aug. 30 showdown against St. Louis.

The Yankees (94-68), having clinched home-field advantage throughout the American League playoffs on Saturday, ended their regular season on a high. Despite a challenging second half, Verdugo expressed optimism, stating, “I think we’re in a good spot.”

Pirates Reflect on Season

The Pirates (76-86) equaled their last season’s record, marking their sixth consecutive losing season. After a promising start, the Pirates faltered, losing 32 out of their last 52 games. Manager Derek Shelton reflected on the need for improvement, stating, “The last two teams we played, the Brewers and the Yankees, are where we aspire to be.”

Key Contributions and Looking Ahead

The Yankees also benefited from Trent Grisham’s performance, who smashed a two-run homer and contributed an RBI single. Despite a rain delay and challenging pitching conditions, Clarke Schmidt managed to restrict the Pirates to four runs and four hits in over four innings, demonstrating his potential in New York’s postseason rotation.

The Yankees drew a crowd of 3,309,838 over 79 home dates, a slight increase from 2023’s 3,269,016 for 80 home dates. This season saw 17 sellouts, the third-most at the current Yankee Stadium and the most since 2018.

The Yankees are now gearing up for the Division Series on Saturday in the Bronx, where RHP Gerrit Cole is set to start Game 1 against either Baltimore or Kansas City. Meanwhile, the Pirates look ahead to spring training against the Orioles on Feb. 22 in Sarasota, Florida.