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. Adam Frazier Pirates Jersey . The Los Angeles Clippers showed them just how ugly that life could be. Jared Dudley scored a season-high 21 points, Chris Paul added 16 points and 17 assists, and the Clippers jumped all over the Bulls in Roses absence for a 121-82 victory Sunday. 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Since becoming a Stampeder, he has elevated his play and raised his stock around the league.UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- In a season filled with demoralizing losses, Tuesday nights meltdown against Tampa Bay was the worst yet for the New York Islanders. Valtteri Filppula scored twice in the final 3 minutes of regulation, including the tying goal with 3.8 seconds left, and then converted in the shootout to rally the Lightning past the skidding Islanders 3-2. "When youre coming back from two down and get that first one, you get immediate confidence," said Filppula, a key free-agent signing by Tampa Bay last summer. "Thats a good sign when you get a great bounce late and win a game when you didnt play your best all night." Nikita Kucherov also connected in the shootout as the Lightning handed New York its 13th loss in 14 games (1-9-4). The only Islanders victory during that stretch came in a shootout last Tuesday at San Jose. New York is 5-15-4 since trading popular left wing Matt Moulson to Buffalo for Thomas Vanek on Oct. 27. And by now, last springs playoff appearance is a distant memory. "Its unbelievable, its frustrating, its disappointing," said Islanders captain John Tavares, who angrily slammed his stick against the boards as he left the ice. "Were not happy with the result." Filppula scored his second third-period goal off a scramble with 3.8 seconds left to force overtime. He also scored at 17:07 to cut New Yorks lead to 2-1. He has 12 goals on the season. Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielsen scored for the Islanders. Nielsen also scored in the shootout, but the game ended when Tavares couldnt convert the final chance for New York against Ben Bishop. "I think you earn what you get," Tavares said. "We left two guys open right in the slot, and theyre going to capitalize when they get their chances." Okposo scored his 11th of the season, driving the puck from the left point through traffic and past Bishop 11 seconds into the second.dddddddddddd Tavares and Brock Nelson assisted as Radko Gudas was serving an interference penalty that carried over from the first period. Nielsen made it 2-0 at 10:21 of the third, converting on a 2-on-1 break with Michael Grabner to beat Bishop to the stick side. It was the 11th goal of the season for Nielsen, who hadnt scored since Nov. 19. Filppula ruined Evgeni Nabokovs shutout bid late in the third and eventually spoiled the entire night for New York. The Islanders (9-19-7) lost their sixth straight home game -- the past four in overtime or a shootout -- and dropped to 0-16-5 when scoring fewer than three goals. They havent won at home since Nov. 16, when they defeated Detroit 5-4 in a shootout. Only Buffalo, with eight wins, has fewer than the Islanders. "We just dont know how to win right now," Nabokov said. Tampa Bay (20-11-3) snapped a seven-game road losing streak Sunday against Detroit and pulled out another one away from home. The Lightning have been a surprise in the Atlantic Division with an especially young roster this season. They have 13 players who have played fewer than 100 NHL games. But they are anchored by 38-year-old centre Martin St. Louis, who leads the team with 13 goals and 18 assists. He played his 1,000th NHL game earlier this season. The teams meet at Tampa Bay on Jan. 16 and March 27. The Islanders next take on the rival Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Friday. "Its important how we respond in our next game after a tough loss like this," Islanders coach Jack Capuano said. NOTES: The Islanders were without defenceman Lubomir Visnovsky (concussion) for the 27th straight game. New York also was missing forward Casey Cizikas (jaw). ... Matt Carkner and Colin McDonald were healthy scratches for the Islanders. ... The Lightning were without defencemen Victor Hedman (lower body) and Keith Aulie (hand). ' ' '