NEW YORK (Interstat) — Jazz Chisholm Jr. homered twice and drove in five runs to lead the New York Yankees to an 8-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night at Yankee Stadium II.

Chisholm’s first blast, a three-run shot in the bottom of the first inning, erased an early deficit and sparked a four-run frame. His second, a two-run homer in the third, gave the Yankees the lead for good. The second baseman finished 2 for 4, raising his season home run total to 16.

The Yankees improved to 56-44, while the Pirates dropped to 52-49 in front of 42,348 fans. The game lasted 2 hours, 47 minutes.

Pittsburgh took an early lead in the top of the first when Bryan Reynolds singled off Yankees starter Brent Headrick, but the inning ended with Esmerlyn Valdez striking out. Headrick worked a scoreless first, striking out one.

The Yankees answered in the bottom half against Pirates starter Braxton Ashcraft. After Trent Grisham grounded out, Ben Rice drew a walk following a successful challenge. Paul Goldschmidt then reached on a fielder’s choice that scored Rice, but the play was marred by a fielding error by third baseman Nick Gonzales and a throwing error by left fielder Bryan Reynolds, allowing Goldschmidt to advance to second. Cody Bellinger singled, putting runners at the corners. Chisholm followed with his first homer, a drive to right-center that made it 4-0. Jasson Domínguez lined out and Ryan McMahon struck out to end the inning.

The Pirates chipped away in the second. Ryan O’Hearn singled, and Marcell Ozuna doubled to put runners at second and third. Jared Triolo then hit a ground-rule double to left-center, scoring O’Hearn and Ozuna to cut the deficit to 4-2. After Henry Davis lined out and Billy Cook popped out, Nick Gonzales singled to bring home Triolo, making it 4-3. Brandon Lowe struck out to end the threat.

Pittsburgh took the lead in the third. Reynolds walked and Valdez homered to right-center, his 13th of the season, giving the Pirates a 5-4 edge. But the Yankees immediately answered in the bottom half.

Ashcraft retired the first two batters after Paul Goldschmidt singled and Cody Bellinger grounded into a force out. Chisholm then struck again, launching a two-run homer to right field to put the Yankees ahead 6-5. Jasson Domínguez singled, Ryan McMahon singled, and Austin Wells singled to load the bases. José Caballero then delivered a ground-rule double down the left-field line, scoring Domínguez and McMahon to make it 8-5. Trent Grisham grounded out and Ben Rice struck out to end the inning.

Ashcraft took the loss, falling to 9-4. He allowed eight runs, six earned, on eight hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out three.

Angel Chivilli earned the win for the Yankees, improving to 1-0. He pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing no hits and no walks while striking out none. Headrick tossed a scoreless first before giving way to Chivilli. Fernando Cruz picked up his second save of the season, working 1 1/3 innings of hitless relief with three strikeouts.

Pirates reliever Wilber Dotel was a bright spot, tossing three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out five. Dennis Santana and Brandon Eisert each pitched a scoreless frame as well.

The Pirates managed nine hits in the game. Valdez went 1 for 3 with a homer and two RBIs. Triolo was 1 for 2 with two RBIs. O’Hearn had two hits and scored a run. Nick Gonzales added a single and an RBI.

The Yankees collected 11 hits. Caballero went 2 for 4 with a double and two RBIs. Bellinger had a single and scored a run. Goldschmidt reached twice and scored.

The game featured two key defensive plays. In the third, Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe and shortstop Jared Triolo turned a force out on Bellinger. In the eighth, Yankees reliever Dennis Santana induced a double play grounder from Caballero to end a threat.

Pittsburgh had opportunities in the middle innings but could not capitalize. In the fourth, Henry Davis singled and advanced to second on an error by McMahon, but Nick Gonzales grounded into a double play and Lowe struck out. In the fifth, Valdez walked and Ozuna walked, but Jacob Gonzalez lined out to end the inning. In the eighth, O’Hearn singled but was erased on another double play, and the Pirates went quietly in the ninth.

Chisholm’s performance was the latest in a solid stretch. He had homered in three of his previous four games, including a solo shot and an RBI in a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday.

The Yankees entered the game with a 58.30 percent win probability according to the Interstat ELO system. Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Pittsburgh 7, New York 5. New York was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus-1.5. The total score of 13 went under the over/under line of 7.5.

The series continues Tuesday night, with the Pirates and Yankees meeting again at Yankee Stadium II. Pittsburgh then hosts Chicago Cubs for three games starting Friday, while the Yankees travel to Philadelphia for a three-game set beginning Friday.