Yankees fail to complete sweep; drop finale to Pirates, 5-3

A sweep would've been nice. 

Despite getting a solid 6 inning, three-run start from Vidal Nuno and a long home run from Yangervis Solarte, the Yankees failed to complete a sweep of the Pirates this afternoon at Yankee Stadium, falling 5-3.

In today's bottom of the second, the Bombers, after commiting two errors in the top half of the frame that led to an RBI Single from ex-Yank Chris Stewart (who also had a run-scoring sac fly in the game), scratched across a pair to take an early lead, as Solarte scored from first on an outfield error and Brendan Ryan bunt-singled home John Ryan Murphy.

At that point, the Pinstripes were ahead 2-1, and appeared to be on their to way another W. 

They weren't, however, as the Pirates would take the lead in the sixth thanks to a two-run shot from Starling Marte. 

After Solarte's homer tied the game in the bottom of the frame, Pittsburgh would again take the lead in the seventh, when Josh Harrison put an Alfredo Aceves pitch into the left field stands.

That play pretty much ended this contest, and the veteran Aceves went on to take the loss, his second already this season.

Kuroda's quality start leads Yankees to 4-3 win over Pirates

Thank God for first and second innings.

Hiroki Kuroda, entering this start just 2-3 with a 4.62 ERA, threw 6 innings of three-run ball as the Yankees, helped out by another four-out save from David Robertson, slipped past the Pirates in today's Game 1, 4-3.

The second hitter Kuroda faced this afternoon, Neil Walker, actually homered to right field, putting the Yanks in an early 1-0 hole. 

That period of trailing, however, would quickly end for the hometown Bombers, who scored a combined 4 runs in their first two at-bats thanks to a 2-run Single from Mark Teixeira, an RBI Single from Brian McCann, and an RBI Double from Brett Gardner. 

Those three plays would put the Pinstripes up 4-1, with that score staying the same until the top of the fifth, when Pittsburgh drove home a pair to bring the game to within one. 

That'd be as close as the visitors would get though, as Matt Daley induced two flyouts on just three pitches in the top of the seventh followed by an inning-ending strikeout from Matt Thornton.

In the eighth, Right-Hander Adam Warren also appeared for the Yankees, picking up two outs to set up Robertson's three-strikeout save, his eighth in as many opportunities this season.

Game Two Thread: Yankees vs. Pirates 5/18

Game 2 of the single admission double header at Yankee Stadium begins any time now between the New York Yankees and the Pittsburgh Pirates. In the second game, which will start 30 minutes after the first game, the Yankees will send Vidal Nuno to the mound to face off with Gerrit Cole for the Pirates. This game can also be seen on the YES Network, MLB Network, MLB TV, and can be heard on the radio with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman on WFAN.

Nuno was hammered in his last outing and now may be pitching for his starting rotation job after Chase Whitley was impressive in his last outing. Nuno allowed seven runs, five earned, in 3.1 IP against the New York Mets. Nuno is 1-1 this season with a 4.94 ERA leaving fans wondering when the Vidal Nuno Experiment will end in New York as a starting pitchah.

Cole was originally drafted by the New York Yankees only to return to school and get drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates a year later in the MLB draft. Cole was not sharp in his last outing allowing three walks and seven hits in 5.2 IP against the Brewers. This is only the second time Cole had not gone six innings in a start this season so let's hope today is the third.

Go Yankees!! Enjoy the game Yankees family and enjoy what's left of your weekend.

Pittsburgh Got Tired Of Winning... Meme

I guess this is why the Pittsburgh Pirates are choking so bad and in fourth place in the NL Central division. The Pirates just got tired of winning and being a follower and not a leader and are back to being the lovable losers. Oh well, our gain. On to Game Two...

Yankees Injury Updates From Twitter

Pineda threw 28 pitch bullpen session. Felt fine. 2 days off then will throw 30-40 pitch pen. After that will start facing hitters #Yankees
— Meredith Marakovits (@M_Marakovits) May 18, 2014

Michael Pineda on his way back...

Shawn Kelley moving fwd: play catch mon-tues. Throw pen wed. Rehab appearance fri. Hopes to join team last day in CHI if all goes well.
— Meredith Marakovits (@M_Marakovits) May 18, 2014

So is Shawn Kelley...

Beltran had second cortisone shot the other day. Will see Andrews this week #Yankees
— Meredith Marakovits (@M_Marakovits) May 18, 2014

Beltran, not so much....

Game One Thread: Yankees vs. Pirates 5/18

Game 1 of the doubleheader today begins now at Yankee Stadium between the New York Yankees and the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Yankees will send Hiroki Kuroda to the mound to face off with Charlie Morton for the Pirates. The game will begin at 1:05 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB Network, MLB TV, and can be heard on the radio with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman on WFAN.

Follow @GreedyStripes on Twitter to chat with us during the game or to ask us a question. We want to restart out "Ask A Greedy Pinstripe" series where we answer your questions from email, twitter, comments in our comments section, etc. It's basically like a mailbag session that you see anywhere else, so the idea is not original, but I think everyone enjoys them so send them in to us. You can tweet us, leave us a line here or in any post in the comments section of the site, or you can email us at the greedy pinstripes (at) gmail.

Enjoy the game Yankees family and get ready for the second game right after this one.

Girardi "would be shocked" if Sabathia returns when eligible

As of now, Yankees Starting Pitcher CC Sabathia is eligible to come off the DL in eight days.

The veteran lefty, just 3-4 with a 5.28 ERA so far this season, hurt his knee last Saturday in Milwaukee, making him the third New York starter (joining Michael Pineda and Ivan Nova) to go down in 2014.

When the injury first happened, reports stated that #52 would be back as soon as possible, but now, according to Manager Joe Girardi, that likely won't be the case.

“I would be kind of shocked,” Girardi told the New York Post before yesterday's 7-1 win over the Pirates. “None of us really know [how long he will be out]… There’s not a lot of history on this.”

When CC's turn to start came around last Thursday, minor-league right-hander Chase Whitley threw a scorless 4.2 innings, so, while Sabathia being back as soon as possible would be nice, I don't see a need to hurry him.

Whitley wasn't necessarily dominant in his first start, but overall, I'd still say he contributed to the team's win. He kept the game tied, and gave the bullpen their much-needed chance to hold the Mets offense down.

History of The Pittsburgh Pirates Logo... Meme

I had to post this as I am the biggest AJ Burnett fan in all of AJ Burnett fandom. This is obviously a little outdated since he is in Philadelphia now but still, it's funny.

Michael Pineda Comes Through Bullpen Session

Michael Pineda threw his second bullpen session since his teres major back muscle landed him on the disabled list and came through it pain free. Pineda threw 20 pitches and reported no pain or discomfort in the shoulder/back which is extremely encouraging. Pineda is scheduled to throw another 25 pitches today in the bullpen in the next step of his rehab. Early June still looks like the timetable for return for Pineda.

Yankees Call Up Jose Ramirez As 26th Man

As you all know the New York Yankees have a double header scheduled today with the Pittsburgh Pirates so thanks to Major League Baseball both teams get to call up a 26th man for the game. The Yankees decided to add a fresh arm to the major league team and have selected Jose A. Ramirez from Scranton to fill the void. If the game gets out of hand, either way and either game, expect Ramirez to take one on the chin for the Yankees bullpen today.