FINAL: Red Sox 6, Pirates 1 - Abreu's 3-5 day at the plate powers Boston to win

The Red Sox defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-1 on Sunday afternoon to earn the series sweep. Boston improves to 13-10 on the season. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Wilyer Abreu led the way at the plate going 3-5. 

• Reese McGuire came through as a pinch hitter with a big 2-run single in the 5th which made it 4-1 Boston. 

• Josh Winckowski went 3.1 innings, giving up one run, three hits, striking out one and walking none. 
• Justin Slaten got the win going two innings, striking out two, walking one, giving up 2 hits and no runs.
• Team ERA was 1.35 this series. 
• Red Sox left 12 runners on base which is still an issue. 

The Red Sox will continue their road trip in Cleveland on Tuesday to face the Guardians at 6:10 p.m. The test now for Boston will be beating the teams that have a record above .500. 

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WHO: Red Sox (12-10) at Pittsburgh Pirates (11-10)
WHEN: 1:35 p.m.
WHERE: PNC Park, Pittsburgh
SERIES TO DATE: 2-0 
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Josh Winckowski 1-1, 4.63 ERA) vs. LHP Martin Perez (1-0, 2.55 ERA)
TV/RADIO: NESN WEEI-FM 93.7
LIVE BOX
LINEUPS
RED SOX
Rafaela SS
Duran CF
Refsnyder RF
Abreu LF
Wong C
Dalbec 3B
Reyes 1B
Heineman DH
Valdez 2B

SP Josh Winckowski 

Pirates
Joe RF
Reynolds LF
Hayes 3B
Suwinski CF
McCutchen DH
Tellez 1B
Bart C
Cruz SS
Triolo 2B

SP Martin Perez

WHAT'S UP
The Red Sox have won 3 of their last 4 games...They’re 5-3 in their last 8.

Boston has won the 3-game series at PIT to improve to 4-2-1 in series play, including 3-0-1 on the road.

 Prior to this year, the last time the Sox won or split each of their first 4 road series in a season was 2016 (3-0-1).

 BOS is looking to complete its 2nd sweep of the season (also 4/1-3 at OAK). 

The Red Sox rank 2nd in MLB with 29 HR (1st: BAL-31), their most through 22 games since 2012 (29) and tied for 8th-most in franchise history.

On the road, Boston leads MLB in HR (18) and leads the AL in SLG (.434) and OPS (.766). 

 Boston leads the Majors with a 2.59 ERA (58 ER/201.1 IP)...It marks the club’s 4th-lowest ERA through 22 games in the Live-Ball Era (since 1920) and lowest since 2001 (2.34).

The Red Sox lead MLB with 209 SO.

Boston leads MLB in unearned runs (26) and errors (21).

Through the Red Sox’ first 22 games of the season, Boston’s starting pitchers have allowed just 28 runs (22 ER) in 116.0 innings with 120 SO and 30 BB.

The Sox’ 1.71 starter ERA is their lowest through 22 games in the Live-Ball Era (since 1920), and the 2nd-lowest by any team since 2000 (ATL-1.68 in 2014; source: Elias).

Boston’s starters lead MLB in ERA (1.71) and rank 2nd in WHIP (1.00), opponent AVG (.200), and SO (120). 

Kenley Jansen recorded his 425th career save yesterday, breaking a tie with John Franco for 5th on MLB’s all-time saves list.

 He ranks T-4th in the AL with 5 saves (5-for-6).