Pirates top Red Sox after rain delay to take series
PITTSBURGH – Bryan Reynolds, Brandon Lowe, and Nick Yorke each had two RBIs to lift the Pittsburgh Pirates over the Boston Red Sox 8-3 after a 2 1/2-hour rain delay on Sunday.
The tarp came out after the sixth inning at 3:35 p.m. local time, and play resumed at 6:05.
The Pirates won their franchise-best eighth consecutive home series against an AL opponent, a streak extending back to a three-game sweep of Detroit from July 21-23, 2025.
Reynolds got Pittsburgh on the board first with an RBI double in the first, and scored when Lowe added a single.
Reynolds singled in a run to spark the Pirates’ five-run third. Lowe added his second RBI single and Yorke hit a two-run single before Henry Davis hit a sacrifice fly that made it 7-0.
Lake Bachar worked three innings as the opener, surrendering two hits and fanning four. Kirby Yates (1-5) picked up his first win after striking out two in a scoreless seventh.
Paul Skenes was scheduled to start Sunday’s game for the Pirates, but had his next appearance moved back to Wednesday against Detroit. The move was announced by Pirates manager Don Kelly Saturday night. Kelly decided to give Skenes some extra rest before his next start after pitching Tuesday against Miami, where he went 5 innings and was pulled after 65 pitches.
Patrick Sandoval (1-2) had six strikeouts in the loss. He allowed seven runs and nine hits across four innings.
The Red Sox started a rally in the fifth on Connor Wong’s three-run homer, but the delay halted any momentum towards a 29th comeback win.
Up next
The Red Sox haven’t announced their starter for Monday in the opener of a three-game series against Arizona. LHP Mitch Bratt (1-1, 3.74 ERA) is slated to pitch for the Diamondbacks.
The Pirates have not announced their starter for Monday in the opener of a three-game series against the Tigers. LHP Framber Valdez (7-8, 4.26 ERA) starts for Detroit.