Ryan Weathers salvages tough start after struggling early in Yankees win

Coming off a doubleheader in which every reliever except Kervin Castro pitched, the Yankees could have used more from Ryan Weathers on Monday when he lasted just 4 ²/₃ innings.Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees.

But after rough second and third innings, Weathers bore down and managed to record 14 outs, salvaging a night that could have gone much worse.Weathers gave up one lead but held the next, pitching better as the game wore on and solving a pitch-tipping issue on the fly in what became an 8-5 win over the Pirates in The Bronx.“I love those outings when it’s a grind, when it’s tough,” manager Aaron Boone said, “and you still give yourself, give your team a chance to win.”That is what Weathers did in allowing five runs in the second and third innings but settling down afterward.In the second, the first three Pirates tallied hits, the third of which was an RBI double from Jared Triolo.From second base, Triolo appeared to be relaying signs to batters concerning when a changeup would be coming.“I made an adjustment in-game,” Weathers said.“I fired a fastball, and that kind of shut it down.”The issues were not over, though, with one more RBI single in that inning and a two-run homer from rookie sensation Esmerlyn Valdez in the third.

The homer came off a down-the-middle slider, a pitch Weathers said he struggled with and should have moved away from sooner.But after Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s second home run of the night keyed a four-run third that gave the Yankees an 8-5 edge, Weathers allowed just a single in the fourth and a walk in the fifth, when he was pulled with two outs and watched Angel Chivilli escape the bit of danger.“Wasn’t a great one for him, got hit around early on a night we’re up against it pen-wise,” Boone said, “but I love the fact that he hung in there.”The Yankees still did not have any clarity regarding a time...