Pirates down Yankees after rain delay

BRISTOLVa  Cody Brown launched a three-run homer to cut the Yankees’ deficit late, but the Bristol Pirates fought off Pulaski, 7-5, on Tuesday night at Boyce Cox Field. With the loss, Bristol swept Pulaski in a two game set on the road following an 82 minute rain delay before originally scheduled first pitch. 

The Yankees drew first blood for the fifth time in eight games this season with two runs in the opening inning. Everson Pereira hit his fourth double of the season to center field to score Max Burt. Later in the inning with runners on the corners and two outs, Bristol pitcher Oliver Garcia was called for a balk, scoring Pereira with Saul Torres at the plate. 

Bristol rattled off seven unanswered runs to grab a commanding 7-2 lead. In the bottom half of the first, the Pirates scored on a fielding error by Burt at second base which would have ended the inning. Two innings later, Mason Martin doubled to center field to score Jonah Davis for his Appalachian League leading 11th RBI of the 2018 season. 

The Bucs took a 3-2 lead later in the third inning on a RBI single by Conner Uselton to score Martin. Next inning, Bristol’s lead extended to 5-2 on a two-run double by Dean Lockery to score Gabriel Brito and Davis. In the seventh, Uselton added his second RBI single of the night, this time scoring Lockery on a 1-2 count. Uselton scored on a Brendt Citta singled to open the Pirates’ lead to five. 

In the top half of the eighth, Cody Brown blasted his first homer of the season with Saul Torres and Nelson Gomez on base to bring Pulaski within striking distance. But in the ninth inning, Luis Diaz completed a 1.1 innings performance out of the bullpen and received credit for his first game of the season.

The Yankees’ record drops to 2-6 on the 2018 season after being swept in a two-game set in Bristol. Pulaski returns home on Thursday, June 28 with a 7 p.m. tilt against the Burlington Royals. It’s Bark in the Park Night presented by Town & Country Veterinary Clinic at Motor Mile Field in Calfee Park, where fans are encouraged to bring their four-legged friend to the stadium. Ticket information is available at pulaskiyankees.net