NEW YORK, N.Y. - The way this season is going for Hiroki Kuroda, hell happily take a win on a day when he laboured through six innings. Mark Teixeira hit a two-run single, Brett Gardner added an RBI double and the New York Yankees held on for a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday in the opener of a single-admission doubleheader. "As a pitcher, the win is always a good thing," Kuroda said through a translator. "Even though you may not have perfect stuff, to get the win is very encouraging." It had been quite some time since Kuroda (3-3) came out a winner. He was 0-2 with three no-decisions since beating Boston on April 12. Kuroda allowed a homer in the first Sunday to Neil Walker — his ninth — but then retired nine in a row before walking Andrew McCutcheon in the fourth. The right-hander was hurt by the home run again in the fifth, when Tony Sanchez led off with a drive to left field. Kuroda was lifted after throwing 98 pitches and allowing five hits and two walks. He struck out seven in lowering his ERA to 4.61. The former Los Angeles Dodger improved to 6-1 against Pittsburgh. "The mechanics, the command are not as good as last year," said Kuroda, who was 6-2 at this point last season. New York needed four relievers to finish the opener of the first traditional twinbill at Yankee Stadium since 2004. David Robertson got four outs for his eighth save. Brian McCann had an RBI single and New York scored all its runs in the first two innings on five hits after belting five homers in a 7-1 victory Saturday. The Yankees improved to 8-0 in interleague home games against Pittsburgh and will try for their third three-game sweep of the Pirates, along with 2005 and 07, in the finale. Pittsburghs Gerrit Cole faces Vidal Nuno. With the second game scheduled to begin about 30 minutes after the end of the first, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Derek Jeter would only start the opener. Girardi also said Jacoby Ellsbury would not start in centre field both games after sitting out Saturday with flu-like symptoms. Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said to expect lineup changes for the finale. His main concern, though, was protecting his bullpen for the second game, and Charlie Morton (0-6) did just that with seven solid innings after a shaky start. Morton walked Gardner to open the first. Jeter then bunted down the third base line for a hit and Ellsbury was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Teixeira, who homered Saturday. The hot-hitting first baseman lined his single to right-centre. McCann followed with a single for a 3-1 lead. "Well, I walked Gardner to lead off the game, the bunts a hit, I hit Ellsbury, bases loaded, no outs," Morton said. "I backed myself in a corner and they took advantage." Gardner doubled in the second but Morton settled down after that. He allowed just one baserunner the rest of his outing, and Zoilo Almonte, who singled with two outs in the fourth, was picked off first base — after a replay overturned an original safe call. Walkers RBI single in the fifth cut the lead to 4-3. "We had some opportunities again," Hurdle said. "We pushed (Kuroda), pushed the pitch limit. He found outs when he had to to stay in the game and complete the innings that he pitched." The Pirates scored three runs for Morton after giving him only three runs of support in his previous four starts. He gave up six hits and walked one with six strikeouts. NOTES: The doubleheader was scheduled to make up Friday nights rainout. ... Starling Marte struck out in each of his four at-bats. ... Yankees RF Carlos Beltran (right elbow) had a second cortisone shot to try to ease the discomfort in his right elbow from a bone spur. He will get a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews on Tuesday. Girardi said Beltran had planned on getting the second opinion but Andrews wasnt available sooner. Girardi said Beltran is getting better. ... Girardi also acknowledged that LHP CC Sabathia might need surgery someday on his right knee because the condition is degenerative. Sabathia was returning from a visit to Andrews office, where he had his knee drained and was given a cortisone shot. ... The Pirates streak of the leadoff batter reaching in eight straight games ended when Travis Snider struck out looking. ... The Pirates recalled RHP Brandon Cumpton from Triple-A Indianapolis as the 26th man for the doubleheader. The Yankees brought up RHP Jose Ramirez from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Adidas Nmd Herre Sort . The 28-year-old lefty made his MLB debut in 2013, making 10 starts and going 2-5 with 4.05 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. Albers was named the Twins organizations minor league pitcher of the year for 2013. Adidas Nmd Herre Tilbud . The 33-year-old defender has spent his entire career at Chelsea, scoring 57 goals in 621 appearances. He regained his regular starting place under Jose Mourinho in the season that ended at the weekend without Chelsea winning a trophy. http://www.dknmdskotilbud.com/adidas-nmd...ark/nmd-r1.html. He even addressed his group of relievers Sunday morning. Dustin McGowan made those worries a nonfactor, at least for a day. McGowan pitched three-hit ball for seven innings, Colby Rasmus hit a grand slam and Melky Cabrera added a two-run homer as the Blue Jays beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-2. Adidas Nmd r1 Herre Sort . Notes on P.K. Subban, Dale Weise, Erik Haula, Mikael Granlund, Ilya Bryzgalov and more. Adidas Nmd r2 Dame . Alen, 28, hit .315 with five home runs, 59 RBI and a career-high nine stolen bases for the Goldeyes last season. He is the longest serving catcher in Goldeyes history, having already spent five seasons with the organization.While Wayne Gretzkys interest in returning to the NHL remains strong, he has not talked to the Washington Capitals about the possibility, according to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger. The New York Post reported this week that theres a mutual interest between Gretzky and Capitals owner Ted Leonsis in creating a position for the him on the clubs management team, while CSN Washington speculated that Gretzky could be team president with Rogers Sportsnet analyst and former NHL general manager/head coach Doug MacLean as general manager. Current team president and alternate governor Dick Patrick is working withh Leonsis to find the teams next general manager and head coach after firing George McPhee and Adam Oates on April 26.dddddddddddd. Former Nashville Predators bench boss Barry Trotz was in Washington on Tuesday to meet with Leonsis and Patrick, according to Dreger. Trotz was relieved of his head coaching duties with the Predators in mid-April, the organization he had been with for 15 seasons. Gretzkys last NHL stint was with the Phoenix Coyotes, where he worked as head coach and director of hockey operations from 2000 to 2009. The Coyotes made the playoffs just once during Gretzkys tenure. ' ' '