The Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox were back in action Tuesday night in game two of their three game series at Fenway Park. Pittsburgh won a high scoring affair to open the series, and the Pirates would use timely hits with some strong pitching to earn a 4-1 victory and take the series from Boston.
The Red Sox only lead came when Masataka Yoshida grounded out to bring home Alex Verdugo. Pittsburgh would take the lead in the second on a Ji Hwan Bae two run homer in the second. Bryan Reynolds added to that lead in the third with a solo home run to right center. Reynolds would also plate the final run of the night in the seventh with an RBI single to center that scored Tyler Heineman.
Roansy Contreras was solid during his 5.2 innings on the mound tonight. He would have made it through six innings, but an error by Oneil Cruz kept the inning alive. Contreras struck out two, walked one and gave up just one run on three hits. Dauri Moreta pitched an inning giving up one hit, with one strikeout. Jose Hernandez struck out the only batter he faced in seventh. The eighth inning belonged to Colin Holderman, while David Bednar would strikeout a batter in the ninth to earn his third save of the season.
Nick Pivetta was tagged with the loss after throwing five innings, allowing three runs, one earned, on three hits with three walks and six strikeouts. Josh Winckowski worked three innings, giving up one run on two hits with one walk and three strikeouts.
Bae made a tremendous catch up against the “Green Monster´ while playing in center field during the eighth inning. The offense was once again led by Reynolds, who went 3-4 on the night. Heineman was in the lineup after getting called up from AAA, because of Austin Hedges being placed on the 7-day concussion IL.
These two teams will close out this series Wednesday afternoon at 1:35pm. Mitch Keller is expected to start for the Pirates, while Boston will counter with Corey Kluber. Both starters had rough opening day starts and will look to bounce back.
Record vs. Red Sox: 2-0
Record vs. American League: 2-0
Record on the Road: 3-2
Overall Record: 3-2
And…
As Always…
Let’s Go Bucs!
