Young New York Yankees outfielder Tyler Austin had quite the day as he nearly single-handedly defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates Thursday afternoon. Austin not only provided the game-winning home run (1) in the top of the eighth, but he also threw out a runner at the plate in the bottom of the sixth to stop the Pirates from taking the lead at that point.
The Yankees won 2-1.
Austin took Pirates reliever Deolis Guerra deep to put the Yankees ahead to stay. The hit came in his only at bat as he entered the game as a substitute.
The Yankees scored their first run in the fifth when newcomer Garrett Jones, a former Pirate, doubled home Chris Young, whom Austin replaced in the sixth. MLB.com's Tom Singer described the double as a wind-aided blooper as it fell in the middle of three Pirates fielders in short right field.
Pittsburgh scored its lone run on a sixth-inning RBI single from Jaff Decker. The next hitter, Deibinson Romero, then lined the ball into right field, where Austin grabbed it and made the throw to nail Decker at the plate.
Fred Lewis (W: 1-0, 0.00) picked up the win in relief by piching a scoreless seventh and benefitting from Austin's shot. Taylor Garrison pitched a perfect ninth inning for his first spring save (1).
Guerra (L: 9.00) allowed the home run to suffer the loss. It was the only hit he allowed in his one inning.
The two teams switch facilities Friday with the Yankees' split squad hosting Pittsburgh. The Yankees' other squad will travel to play at the Philadelphia Phillies.