Jameson Taillon struggled in his return to Pittsburgh as the Yankees fell, 5-2, to the Pirates on Tuesday night.

Takeaways

1) In his return to Pittsburgh since being traded in 2021, Taillon was dominant early, his only mistake was grooving a fastball to Daniel Vogelbach in the second inning that left the yard, but his former team would get to him in the fourth. Jack Suwinski would get around an inside changeup to hit a two-run shot to center field. Ben Gamel would tack on another run after a two-out double scored Oneil Cruz from first.

This was just the second time Taillon gave up two or more home runs in a game this season. The first time was June 23 against Houston.

Taillon’s final line: 5.1 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 5 K on 94 pitches.

2) The Yankees offense could not get the clutch hit they needed in this game, but they had plenty of chances. Their biggest came in the third when Gleyber Torres lined a double to left field with two outs to move DJ LeMahieu, who singled earlier, to third base. Giancarlo Stanton would get good wood on the ball and hit it to center field but it had too much air and Bryan Reynolds was able to dive and make the catch to end the threat.

The Yankees would finally break through in the fifth after an Aaron Judge two-out RBI single that scored Isiah Kiner-Falefa. This snapped a 14-inning scoring drought, dating back to the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader.

3) The Yankees bullpen was largely effective. Lucas Luetge allowed an inherited runner to score in the sixth, but he got through 1.2 innings.

Aroldis Chapman, making his second appearance since coming off the IL, had a 1-2-3 inning even approaching 102 mph on his fastball at one point. All three outs were courtesy of the ground out and fly out, but it was still encouraging considering his last time out, on Saturday against the Guardians, we saw the veteran reliever unable to get an out while giving up two runs and three walks.

4) Judge would have another chance to drive in runs in the seventh. With a man on first and second with one out, Judge rolled into a 4-6-3 double play to end another Yankees threat.

In the eighth, after a Torres walk and taking second base on a wild pitch, Stanton moved him to third on a ground out but Josh Donaldson pop up to the catcher. Matt Carpenter would pick up JD with an RBI single to cut the lead to 5-2. After a wild pitch moved Carpenter to second, Aaron Hicks struck out to end the inning.

The Yankees were 2-for-9 with RISP and stranded nine runners. They also had a baserunner in every inning but the fourth.

Takeaways

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