So, game 161 and as so often happens at this stage of the season, the team who has least to achieve takes their foot off the accelerator and begins to lose.

Going into this game the Yankees had lost three of four, this afternoon to add to their stresses, the Pittsburgh Pirates had elected that potential National League rookie of the year, Paul Skenes should be on the mound. To this point in the season, Skenes is 3 wins – 1 loss with an earned run average of just under two, and September was his best month of the season so far.

The Yankees’ starter is no slouch either as they went with another potential rookie of the year – American League candidate Luis Gil. Gil is 15-6 with an ERA of 3.27.

With the season coming to an end, and little to play for, the main question is how long the Pirates would allow Skenes to remain in the game – how deep in the innings count, they would allow him to go.

My prediction, before the game, if I am honest, would have been that the Yankees would take this one, clinch top seed and Skenes would go five innings and no more. How wrong can you be!

But let’s look for the Yankee positives. Luis Gil started well – to begin with anyway! Former Yankee, Isiah Kiner-Falefa struck out swinging on four pitches. And although Brian Reynolds took a single, it really didn’t look like the Pirates were going to be any threat. Oneil Cruz became the second Pirate to swing wildly at one of Gil’s pitches and it was two out. A lame lineout to Jasson Dominguez by Nick Gonzales in left rounded out the inning.

The Yankees at bat? Even less impressive. It took Skenes 14 pitches to deal with them, 1-2-3. Dominguez, leading off today, grounded out 4-3. Juan Soto was called out on strikes. Aaron Judge who had been rested yesterday struck out swinging.

Things began to turn in the Pittsburgh team’s favour in the second. It didn’t look like it was going to be that way initially. Joshua Palacios hit a strong flyball, but it went straight to Judge in centre. Jared Triolo struck out swinging on 4 pitches. And then on the first pitch of his at bat, Yasmani Grandal hit one over the right field wall. The Pittsburgh time-at-the plate didn’t deliver anything further, with Nick Yorke being called out on strikes, but it was certainly first blood to the Pirates and Skenes, and the Pittsburgh rookie headed back to the mound. 1-0.

The Yankees were even flatter in the bottom of the second. Austin Wells popped out, with his horrendous slump continuing, Giancarlo Stanton hit a feeble one back to the mound. Jazz Chisholm Jr. was mesmerised by Skenes’ pitching and was called out looking.

If there was to be hope for the Yankees, it was a good sign that there was already activity in the Pirates’ bullpen. And to add to that, Gil began to right his ship, and he took down the next three Pirates in order. First, it was Billy Cook who flied out to leftfield. Then as the Pittsburgh’ lineup returned to the top of the order, Kiner-Falefa was one again simply eliminated, and Reynolds tested Dominguez a little more than Cook had, but once again the flyball was cleanly fielded.

And then came the real surprise. With such a narrow lead and only 2 innings in, Pittsburgh lifted Skenes in a change which effectively ended his season. He wasn’t injured. It just mattered more that he would be ready for 2025. In came another youngster, righthander Mike Burrows. The difference was that this was Burrows MLB debut, having been brought up from the Indianapolis Indians, having previously pitched for the Scottsdale Scorpions. He has risen through the minor leagues at a quick pace indeed. No pressure then. Major league debut. One-zip lead to defend. Pitching against one of the strongest teams in baseball. Entering in the third inning.

What could go wrong??

Well. as it worked out nothing. He continued in the way that Skenes had begun. Anthony Rizzo really worked him, but he wouldn’t crack, and after 11 pitches. he got Rizzo to hit a weak one to Gonzales the shortstop, who threw over to first in good time. Oswaldo Cabrera lasted only 3 pitches by comparison as Burrows got him to strike out swinging. Finally, Jon Berti on the first pitch of his at bat, hit into centerfield where Cruz cleanly fielded. A marvellous beginning for 25-year-old Burrows.

In the fourth, the Pirates began to turn the screw, just a little. Despite Cruz starting the inning by striking out, it didn’t take Pittsburgh long to extend their lead. Gonzales hit a line drive which cleared the fence in left centre, and it was 2-0. Palacios grounded out by hitting directly to Rizzo and Triolo popped out to Berti who was at second base today.

The Yankees really showed no indication of getting back into this one. Dominguez copied Palacios’ effort in the Pirates’ half of the inning, by hitting straight to Triolo at first. There was a brief glimmer of hope with Soto walking on 5 pitches, but it was short-lived. Judge struck out swinging and then Soto was picked off at second as he tried to advance, thanks to a strong throw by Grandal.

Grandal added to this achievement by picking up a single to open the 5th. A Yorke line out meant that there was one out and one on, when Cook hit one into left field for Pittsburgh’s third homer of the game – only this time it brought 2 RBIs to make it 4-0.

Both Kiner-Falefa and Reynolds hit flyouts to bring a sudden end to a promising time at bat, but that gap was widening, and it seemed that there was little chance of New York coming back into it.

In the bottom of the 5th, Wells, who seems completely unable to contribute anything from the plate, once again came up blank, although he managed to add a little vigour to his fly ball to right, but Palacios took it cleanly.

It was very much a game for power-hitting and the fourth homer, and the first for the Yankees, came from 3b Chisholm as he hit to righfield. 4-1.

Another hit to right, this time from Rizzo made it seem that the Yankees might be able to bounce back, but the value of the single was erased when Cabrera hit to first baseman Triolo. Burrows ran over to cover the first base bag for the third out.

Another 3-1 grounder dealt Cruz and there were two outs when Gonzales skyed on to Soto in rightfield. But despite the fact that there were two down, it was not over. Gil continued to be below par, and Palacios was walked on 5 pitches. And then the inevitable homerun. This time it was Triolo, the first baseman, and the score was 6-1.

It was time for Gil to be lifted and it was Clayton Beeter who was brought in. Beeter has seen little time in the majors this season and this is only his third appearance in a game. Grandal survived 6 pitches, but it was clear that Beeter had him baffled, and he struck out swinging.

It seemed likely that the debutant Burrows was at the end of his tenure. He walked Berti on 7, and then Dominguez on 5, and despite getting Soto to line out he was relieved by David Bednar. Judge went on a foul tip, but then there was a third walk with Wells finally getting on base on 6 pitches. Bases loaded.

Stanton hit into a fielders’ choice which combined with a throwing error for Gonzales. Berti scored and the bases were still loaded. 6-2.

A strikeout for Chisholm on a deep but errant swing finally ended the inning, but the Yankees had at least narrowed the lead a little in the sixth.

Clayton Beeter took his place on the mound again for the 7th and continued to do well. Billy Cook’s inconsequential pop up to Volpe was the meat-in-the-sandwich of two strike outs with both Yorke and Kiner-Falefa going down swinging. Ryan Borucki was to replace Bednar in the bottom of the 7th, and on his fifth pitch he was to be the one to cause the Yankees a huge problem. The pitch hit Rizzo full on the wrist and the agonising pain meant that he had to leave the game a little while later. The hit by pitch meant that he headed to first, but a bunt by Cabrera meant that Rizzo was out on the fielder’s choice.

Jon Berti followed that with a flyout to Cruz for the second out. There was a brief moment of hope when Dominguez hit a come-backer to the pitcher which bound up Borucki’s hands and allowed Jasson to make first on a single. The optimism was short-lived, however. Soto hit a single into rightfield, but he became his own undoing when he tried to advance to second during the fielding shuffle and became the third out himself despite his hit taking Dominguez to third.

Rizzo was not able to return to the field in the eighth, and Anthony Volpe came on in his stead, in a rare game when he wasn’t in the starting line-up. This necessitated Cabrera shifting to first to allow Volpe to take his usual place at short. Left-handed sidearmer, Tim Hill came on in place of Beeter and he dealt with the Pirates in a very accomplished fashion. Reynolds flied out to right, Cruz struck out swinging, and Gonzales hit into a 4-3 ground out.

The Yankees now desperately needed more runs and in the bottom of the 8th, one was added. Dennis Santana, the former Yankees’ reliever, came into the game for the second consecutive day. He struck out Judge, but then gave up a walk to the fumbling Wells which opened the door a crack. Stanton was another strikeout, but a double for Chisholm scored Wells. 6-4

And so, into the 9th. Will Warren, who had been previously used as a 5th starter during periods of injury, had not gained this writer’s confidence and once again he showed just why. He began by giving up a walk to Palacios on just four pitches and then allowed the runner to steal second. He did get Triolo to strikeout, but it proved to be a brief respite. Grandal hit a single to centerfield which brough Palacios home. This was followed by a 2 RBI homer for Yorke. 9-4. The Yankees’ remaining hopes were now completely snuffed out. Warren did strike out the remaining two batters (Cook and Kiner-Falefa), but it was now of little consequence.

The Yankees now just really needed to lay down their bats and get out of there. With Jalen Beeks now pitching, they did however, show a further glimmer of resistance. Cabrera hit a single to left and was moved up to second by a grounder to centre from Berti. Dominguez who had done well today, finished weakly, striking out swinging. Beeks then walked Soto on 5 pitches to load the bases. But then once again, the ominous vision of Pirates’ closer Aroldis Chapman was heading towards the mound. Judge struck out swinging and then the last player you want to see in this situation – bases loaded, two out – is Austin Wells. And sure enough on the 3rd pitch, Wells lined out leftfield and was cleanly fielded to end the game.

9-4, then. Because of results elsewhere, the Yankees clinched homefield advantage in the American League playoffs, and with one game remaining they are 93-68.

I’ll be back tomorrow for game 162.