PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ryan Lavarnway was an unlikely candidate to get a big hit in a pressure situation for the Pirates.The 30-year-old fourth-string catcher was playing his 142nd career game http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-babe-ruth-jersey , spread out over seven seasons with five teams, and spent most of 2018 with Triple-A Indianapolis.In his second major league at-bat of the season, Lavarnway drove in the winning run with a pinch-hit single in the 11th inning, giving Pittsburgh a 2-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals.Jameson Taillon had a career-high 11 strikeouts and Colin Moran homered for Pittsburgh.It was the second straight night a backup catcher came through for the Pirates. Jacob Stallings had a game-ending single on Monday night.Stallings and Lavarnway split catching duties all season in Indianapolis before being called up for depth in September. Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said at the time he wanted to honor the work Lavarnway had done this season.“This organization has been so great to me,” Lavarnway said. “I’m just so grateful for everything about them, really. I really feel like myself as a person and as a player here.”Starling Marte led off the 11th with an infield single off Burch Smith (1-6). Josh Bell walked and Burch struck out Francisco Cervelli before Adam Frazier was intentionally walked to load the bases, setting up Lavarnway’s walk-off hit to shallow center.“I was just trying to not to do much,” Lavarnway said. “I think it would be human nature to try to go up there and hit it into the river.”Taillon pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing four hits and a walk. His previous career high in strikeouts was 10, set on July 12.“I worked the top of the strike zone a little bit more than usual Lou Gehrig Jersey , I would say, and then my curveball was the best it’s been the second half,” Taillon said.It looked like the Royals might get to Taillon in the top of the seventh. With runners on second and third, Brian Goodwin hit a flyball to right fielder Pablo Reyes, who threw out Ryan O’Hearn at the plate.It was the first outfield assist for Reyes, a rookie playing his second game in right field.“A great way to end the outing,” Taillon said. “It’s a good feeling.”Pinch-hitter Hunter Dozier tied the game in the ninth with a double off Pirates closer Felipe Vazquez that scored Jorge Bonifacio. Left fielder Corey Dickerson threw to shortstop Jordy Mercer, who relayed home to throw out Salvador Perez and preserve the tie.Vazquez had not blown a save since May 31, a string of 24 consecutive opportunities converted.Kyle Crick (3-2) retired the side on 10 pitches in the 11th to earn the win.Moran had a pinch-hit home run with two outs in the seventh, his 10th homer this season.Eric Skoglund allowed three hits and struck out two in six innings http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-joe-dimaggio-jersey , his first start this season in which he did not allow a run. It was his second start since returning from an ankle injury Sept. 7“He threw the ball great,” manager Ned Yost said. “Six strong innings. Did a really nice job. Got to 67 (pitches) last time out and was starting to get a little tired. Was in the mid-80s this time and felt great. So he’s getting back on track.”The Pirates improved to 14-5 in interleague play, the second-best record in the majors behind the Boston Red Sox.TRAINER’S ROOMPirates: Frazier did not start but said he was “fine” after fouling a ball off his right knee and leaving Monday’s game with discomfort. He grounded into a fielder’s choice in the ninth and remained in the game in left field. … C Elias Diaz (hamstring) made his first appearance since Aug. 31. He walked as a pinch-hitter in the ninth.Royals: Perez was a late scratch with a recurrence of a nagging left thumb injury. He singled in the ninth. … RHP Jorge Lopez (bruised rib) has still not thrown a between-starts bullpen session. His next turn in the rotation is Thursday against Detroit. The team has not announced a probable pitcher.UP NEXTRoyals: Heath Fillmyer (3-1, 4.76 ERA) is scheduled to start the series finale Wednesday. The rookie allowed 10 runs over his previous two starts.Pirates: Chris Archer (4-8, 4.66 ERA) has lost three straight decisions and is 1-4 with a 5.19 ERA since returning from an abdominal injury in early July. NEW YORK (AP) — Austin Romine never expected to replace Aroldis Chapman as the Yankees’ closer.A backup catcher, Romine was leaning on the dugout railing and watching New York get blown out by Boston in Game 3 of the AL Division Series when bench coach Josh Bard walked up to him in the eighth inning.“Can you throw?” Romine recalled Bard asking.“I can try,” the seven-year big league veteran replied.Romine became just the second position player to pitch in postseason history. The 29-year-old right-hander — has he ever been called that before? — allowed Brock Holt’s two-run ninth-inning homer, completing the first-ever postseason cycle. Romine got the last three outs of New York’s 16-1 loss Monday night, the largest margin of defeat for the Yankees in their 396 postseason games.“No, I didn’t envision myself getting in these playoffs in that role Mickey Mantle Jersey ,” said Romine, whose previous playoff experience was one start at catcher plus one inning as a late substitute against Houston in last year’s AL Championship Series.Luis Severino was chased in the fourth inning with a 3-0 deficit that Lance Lynn and Chad Green quickly allowed to become 10-0. Yankees manager Aaron Boone cycled through Jonathan Holder and Stephen Tarpley.With New York trailing 2-1 in the best-of-five series, Boone wanted to keep David Robertson, Dellin Betances, Zach Britton and Chapman fresh for Game 4.“You hate doing something like that,” Boone said.Infielder Cliff Pennington was the first position player to take the mound in the postseason, entering in the ninth inning of Game 4 of the 2015 AL Championship Series with Toronto trailing Kansas City by 10 runs. He gave up a pair of singles, the second driving in two runs, before an inning-ending flyout in a 14-2 defeat.Romine had not pitched since 2007, his senior year at El Toro High School in Lake Forest http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-yogi-berra-jersey , California. Gary Sanchez said Romine had two pitches: fastball and slower fastball.With the Yankees trailing by 13 runs, he threw from 64-90 mph in an 18-pitch outing, using a three-quarters delivery and a short windup in which he didn’t lift his hands above his armpits as he rocked and dealt.“You got to change speeds or they’re going to hit it out,” Romine said.Romine started Xander Bogaerts with an 80 mph pitch on the low, outside corner for a called strike, then gave up a 111 mph smash to third for a groundout. Rafael Devers grounded out. Fans rose to their feet when he went to a 2-2 count on Ian Kinsler, who walked.Holt turned on his first pitch, 79 mph at the knees on the inner part of the plate, and pulled it 355 feet just inside the right-field foul pole and over the short porch.“You get a little antsy when a position player is on the mound,” Holt said. “I scooted up in the box a little bit Roger Maris Jersey , and I was going to be swinging at anything and try to hook anything.”Christian Vazquez followed with a flyout to right.Romine’s first professional pitching line: one inning, two runs, one hit, one walk.“I would have liked to have fun with it,” he said, “but really, I was just trying to get out of the inning.”