PITTSBURGH — Josh Bell hit his second home run in as many games and the Pittsburgh Pirates got to CC Sabathia early for a 6-3 win over the New York Yankees on Friday night.

Jordy Mercer led off with a solo shot against Sabathia (2-1) in the first and Bell followed an inning later with a two-run homer to the left field bleachers to give Pittsburgh a four-run cushion.

Juan Nicasio (1-2) pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief after Tyler Glasnow faltered with two outs in the fifth. Tony Watson got out of a two-on, two-outs jam in the ninth for his fifth save as the Pirates ended a three-game losing streak.

Jacoby Ellsbury had three of New York’s 10 hits, but the Yankees couldn’t overcome Sabathia’s first shaky outing this season and an error on a dropped popup by second baseman Starlin Castro that led to a pair of unearned runs. Sabathia gave up three earned runs in his first starts, but the Pirates put up four runs against him their first time through the order.

The Yankees started their second trip of the season with a rare visit to Pittsburgh, eager to build off an 8-1 homestand fueled by pitching and power.

Neither showed up against the Pirates, who find themselves at an early crossroads, three days after the start of All-Star centerfielder Starling Marte’s 80-game drug suspension. Pittsburgh managed just three runs while getting swept in St. Louis at the start of the week but quickly jumped on Sabathia, making his record 59th interleague start.

Mercer took the second pitch he saw from Sabathia — an 86 mph slider — and sent it into the grass just beyond the centerfield wall. David Freese added a run-scoring single and and Bell sent an 87 mph fastball into the stands in the second. Sabathia, his velocity down from earlier this month, recovered to get through five innings, giving up four runs and seven hits.

Glasnow came within one out of qualifying for his first win this season but was removed after second baseman Josh Harrison’s error allowed New York to close to 4-3. Glasnow, who has battled control issues, needed 102 pitches to get 14 outs

Nicasio came on to strike out Austin Romine, and the Yankees would get no closer. After Castro dropped Andrew McCutchen’s popup in short right field for a run-scoring error, Freese followed two batters later with a second RBI single.