PITTSBURGH — The final time Oswaldo Cabrera and the Yankees visited the Metal Metropolis, he stopped by the Roberto Clemente Museum.
The go to, taken in September 2023, included an opportunity to carry one in every of Clemente’s monumental bats. There’s a perception that gamers who go to the museum and maintain the humanitarian’s bats are graced with good luck. Positive sufficient, Cabrera homered the subsequent day.
“You feel the vibes,” Cabrera mentioned with the Yankees again in Pittsburgh. “You feel the energy of that museum.”
Cabrera added that he deliberate on returning to the Clemente Museum on this journey. He joked that he simply wished to carry the bat once more, although he didn’t want the great luck appeal within the Yankees’ 9-4 win over the Pirates on Friday.
Whereas Cabrera didn’t homer, he began the scoring in Pittsburgh’s residence opener, lofting a two-run single within the second inning. The No. 9 hitter had assist from others on the backside of the Yankees’ lineup, as Trent Grisham walked and Jasson Domínguez doubled beforehand. Cabrera additionally hustled into second on an Oneil Cruz error, the primary of a number of Pirates gaffes within the sport.
The Yankees scored once more on a Domínguez single within the third, which additionally featured an error from Alexander Canario. Pirates followers, fed up at that time after watching former Yankee Isiah Kiner-Falefa boot a ball on the earlier play, then started booing earlier than chanting, “Sell the team.”
The phrase, directed at frugal proprietor Bob Nutting, was a well-liked one all through the day, as a aircraft flew above PNC Park with a banner that learn “SELL THE TEAM BOB” earlier than the Pirates’ sixth lack of the younger season.
There is a aircraft flying above PNC with a banner that claims “SELL THE TEAM BOB” #Pirates pic.twitter.com/JByllBqj4S
Cabrera then added an RBI single within the third earlier than Anthony Volpe knocked one in every of his personal within the fourth. The Yankees scored two extra runs within the fourth body after Domínguez was plunked and Cabrera walked with the bases loaded.
That sequence impressed extra boos and “sell the team” calls for. It might not be the final time that the group — removed from full capability regardless of the Yankees being on the town for a house opener — made its opinion identified.
Promote the Workforce! pic.twitter.com/GeKdjW1a1J
Aaron Decide prompted one other spherical within the seventh inning, clubbing a two-run homer off Tim Mayza, one other ex-Yankee who additionally surrendered Decide’s 61st residence run of the 2022 season.
Decide, who fell into the best area wall on a leaping catch within the first inning, is now the primary participant in MLB historical past with six dingers and 17 RBI by means of his crew’s first seven video games of a season, per the YES Community. He now has 321 profession homers after enjoying in his 1,000th sport on Friday.
For reference, Babe Ruth additionally had 321 homers in his first 1,000 video games with the Yankees.
Aaron Decide has performed seven video games this season.
Aaron Decide has hit SIX residence runs this season! pic.twitter.com/Yx9PQzGix4
Whereas Pirates followers weren’t happy with the Yankees’ newest offensive outburst, Max Fried definitely loved the run help for the second straight begin.
The Yankees scored 20 instances in his pinstriped debut on March 29 — 16 on the time of his departure — although the lefty didn’t qualify for the win after some unhealthy protection prolonged his pitch rely. That wasn’t a difficulty in Pittsburgh, as Fried allowed only one earned run over 5.2 innings.
The Pirates’ solely run off Fried got here on a Bryan Reynolds homer within the third inning. Fried additionally totaled six hits, one stroll, six strikeouts and 98 pitches.
Ke’Bryan Hayes gave the house crowd one thing else to cheer about within the seventh inning when the son of former Yankee Charlie Hayes hit a three-run homer off Fernando Cruz. Nonetheless, it was too little, too late.
Whereas the Yankees’ Friday afternoon win came about underneath grey skies in Pittsburgh, rain by no means fell. That might not be the case on Saturday and Sunday, as there are issues over inclement climate.
Marcus Stroman is slated to start out Saturday’s contest for the Yankees as they search for a 3rd straight win. Bailey Falter will take the ball for the Pirates.
