FINAL: Red Sox 8, Pittsburgh Pirates 1 - Red Sox Pack the Bats for Their Road Trip

The Red Sox (11-10) begin their seven game road trip with an 8-1 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates (11-9). The team hit four home runs, and the pitching staff was lights out all game.

The Sox offense had 12 hits in this one, with eight being for extra bases. Wilyer Abreu (1), Triston Casas (6), Rob Refsnyder (1), and Ceddanne Rafaela (1) all hit a home run tonight. Rafaela also had a stolen base.

I feel like I have been saying this often, but just another great start from a Red Sox starter tonight, this time from Brayan Bello. He went six strong innings, giving up only one hit, two walks, and he struck out seven Bucs. The relief pitching was also great tonight, with Chase Anderson throwing two innings and striking out two, and 31 year old Cam Booser made his Major League debut in the bottom of the ninth inning. He did give up a triple on his first pitch and gave up the only run of the game, but nonetheless a moment that he will remember forever. Booser also got his first strikeout, with the victim being Andrew McCutchen.

My Player of the Game: Wilyer Abreu - Wilyer had his best game of the season at the plate tonight, going 3-5 with a home run and a double, with one RBI, being himself, and he also scored another run on the Refsnyder homer.

Game two of this three game series will be tomorrow at 4:05 p.m.. Probable starters are Kutter Crawford (0-0, 0.42 ERA) and Mitch Keller (2-1, 4.50 ERA).
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             ______________________________

WHO: Red Sox at Pittsburgh Pirates
WHEN: 6:40 p.m.
WHERE: PNC Park, Pittsburgh
SERIES TO DATE: 0-0, 0-3 in 2023
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Brayan Bello (2-1, 3.92 ERA) vs. RHP Quinn Priester (3-3, 7.74 ERA in 2023)
TV/RADIO: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7

LIVE BOX

LINEUPS

RED SOX

Jarren Duran CF
Wilyer Abreu LF
Rob Refsnyder RF
Triston Casas 1B
Connor Wong C
Masataka Yoshida DH
Bobby Dalbec 3B
Enmanuel Valdez 2B
Ceddanne Rafaela SS

SP Brayan Bello

OPPONENT

Oneil Cruz SS
Bryan Reynolds RF
Ke'Bryan Hayes 3B
Rowdy Tellez 1B
Andrew McCutchen DH
Jack Suwinski LF
Jared Triolo 2B
Michael A. Taylor CF
Henry Davis C

SP Quinn Priester

WHAT'S UP

The Red Sox lost to the Cleveland Guardians in yesterday’s series finale, 5-4. The Sox trailed 5-1 entering the bottom of the 6th inning and scored 3 runs in the frame, recording 3 consecutive 2-out hits–including a 2-run triple by Jarren Duran. Boston today begins a 6-game road trip to PIT (3 games) and CLE (3 games).

Vaughn Grissom is currently on rehab assignments with Triple-A Worcester...He’s played in three games as the designated hitter, going 1-for-10 (HBP).

Boston leads the Majors with a 2.70 ERA (55 ER/183.1 IP)...It marks the club’s 5th-lowest ERA through 20 games in the Live-Ball Era (since 1920) and lowest since 2001 (2.28). The Red Sox lead MLB with 189 SO...The Sox’ only seasons with more SO through their first 20 games were 2018 (202), ‘17 (190), ‘16 (210), and ‘13 (196).

Through the Red Sox’ first 20 games of the season, Boston’s starting pitchers have allowed just 27 runs (21 ER) in 104.0 innings with 107 SO and 25 BB. The Sox’ 1.82 starter ERA is their lowest through 20 games in the Live-Ball Era (since 1920), and the 2ndlowest in franchise history (1917-1.47; source: Elias).

The Red Sox’ 24 HR rank T-2nd in the AL (BAL-30) and T-3rd in MLB. The Sox homered in 7 of 10 games during their recent homestand (11 HR), compared to 4 of 10 games on its season-opening 10-game road trip (13 HR).

Red Sox catchers (Reese McGuire, Connor Wong) are tied for the AL lead and 3rd in MLB in RBI (15). Sox catchers rank 2nd in the AL in AVG (.319), SLG (.507), and OPS (.859). In 12 starts as the catcher, McGuire has hit .270 (10-for-37) with 3 runs scored and 8 RBI. In 9 starts as the catcher, Wong has hit .375 (12-for-32) with 3 runs scored, a double, 2 HR, and 7 RBI.

Rob Refsnyder was reinstated from the 10-Day IL prior to yesterday’s game vs. CLE and entered as a pinch-hitter in the 7th inning (remained in LF). Opened the season on the IL (left toe fracture)...Played in 4 rehab games for Triple-A Worcester (4-for-12, 1 HR).