PITTSBURGH — The Yankees’ seventh game of the young season ended with more concern than frustration.
New York fell 4–0 to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday afternoon, mustering just five hits while being silenced by right-hander Mitch Keller. But the bigger blow came in the middle innings when shortstop Anthony Volpe exited after being struck by a pitch, later diagnosed with a broken forearm that will sideline him for 1–2 months.
The loss drops the Yankees to an early-season crossroads moment — not because of the record, but because of who they’ll be without.
Keller in Control
Mitch Keller (1–0) delivered 6 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing four hits while striking out three and walking three. He navigated traffic efficiently and induced weak contact when it mattered most, keeping New York’s lineup off balance all afternoon.
Carlos Rodón (0–1) took the loss despite flashes of swing-and-miss stuff. The left-hander worked five innings, surrendering nine hits and four earned runs while striking out four. Pittsburgh struck early and consistently, plating runs in the second, third, and fifth innings to build a comfortable cushion.
Ke’Bryan Hayes and Bryan Reynolds paced the Pirates’ offense with multi-hit efforts, while Joey Bart added a pair of hits and an RBI as Pittsburgh improved with a balanced attack.
Volpe Injury Casts Shadow
The turning point emotionally came when Volpe was hit on the forearm by a fastball and immediately left the game in visible discomfort. Postgame X-rays revealed a fracture.
Managerial staff confirmed Volpe is expected to miss 1–2 months, a significant absence for a player viewed as a defensive anchor and spark at the top of the lineup.
Volpe had been settling into a steady rhythm to begin the season, and his loss leaves both a defensive and clubhouse void.
Jorbit Vivas Called Up
Following the game, the Yankees announced that infielder Jorbit Vivas has been called up from Triple-A to fill the roster spot.
Vivas brings contact ability and defensive versatility to the infield mix. While he may not replace Volpe’s range at shortstop immediately, he provides lineup flexibility as the Yankees evaluate their infield alignment moving forward.
The club is expected to shuffle pieces internally while Vivas acclimates to the major league level.
Missed Opportunities
Jasson Domínguez accounted for three of New York’s five hits, continuing his strong early-season showing. Austin Wells added a hit and a walk, but the Yankees went quiet in key spots and never mounted a serious rally.
Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger were held hitless, as Keller and the Pirates’ bullpen kept the heart of the order contained.
Looking Ahead
Seven games into the regular season, adversity has arrived early in the Bronx. The Yankees will now look to regroup offensively — and emotionally — as they adjust to life without their starting shortstop for the next stretch of the schedule.
The season is young, but the test just got real.