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NEW YORK -- Alex Verdugo hit a go-ahead, two-run single with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth inning and the New York Yankees ended the regular season with a 6-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates Sunday.
Struggling for most of the second half, Verdugo snapped a 4-all tie by hitting a fastball from Carmen Mlodzinski into right field to score Austin Wells and Jasson Domínguez. Wells was hit by a pitch from Colin Holderman, and Domínguez walked. Following a walk by Jon Berti, Verdugo delivered his fourth hit in 24 at-bats with the bases loaded.
Saturday's game
Paul Skenes pitched two perfect innings in his Yankee Stadium debut and the Pirates hit five homers, including four off rookie Luis Gil, in a 9-4 win.
New York (93-68) clinched home-field advantage throughout the American League playoffs when Cleveland (92-69) lost to Houston.
The Yankees won the season series against the Guardians and hold the tiebreaker.
Yasmani Grandal and Nick Gonzales hit solo homers in the first four innings off Gil. Rookie Billy Cook in the fifth and Jared Triolo in the sixth added two-run drives. Nick Yorke hit a two-run homer in the ninth against Will Warren.
In front of 46,069, New York's 17th home sellout, Skenes threw 23 pitches to six hitters. He threw four over 100 mph, including three to Juan Soto and Aaron Judge.
"He was outstanding," Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. "We knew it was going to be a shorter start. This is a really tough lineup and he executed pitches throughout the first six hitters."
With girlfriend and LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne in the stands, Skenes threw a 99.8 mph fastball on the high, outside corner that Soto took for a called third strike. Judge struck out swinging at a sweeper that was outside.
"It was cool, definitely glad to be able to finish the season," Skenes said. "Cool to do it here, cool to do it against this lineup."
Mike Burrows (1-0), who underwent Tommy John surgery in 2023, followed Skenes and threw 68 pitches over 3-plus innings to win in his major league debut.
-- The Associated Press