Aaron Judge gets night off in Yankees’ loss to Pirates

NEW YORK — A day after the Yankees won the American League East title, outfielder Aaron Judge was not in the lineup Friday night for a much-needed day off.

But New York had a chance to clinch the top seed in the AL postseason with a win and a Guardians loss to the Astros. The Yankees were unable to capture the top spot because they lost to the Pirates, 4-2, at Yankee Stadium.

The score was tied at 2 when the Pirates got to reliever Tommy Kahnle in the top of the eighth inning. With Billy Cook on first after a single, Bryan Reynolds hit a 1-0 pitch over the center-field fence to give Pittsburgh the two-run lead, his second homer of the game.

The Yankees took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. With the bases loaded, Jazz Chisholm Jr. singled up the middle on an 0-1 pitch from reliever Joey Wentz to send home Jose Trevino and Oswaldo Cabrera.

But Pittsburgh tied the score at 2 against Yankees starter Carlos Rodón in the sixth inning when Nick Gonzales and Reynolds hit consecutive home runs.