Pirates Get Elusive Series Win by Beating Boston in Rubber Match

PITTSBURGH — For the first time in nearly a month, the Pirates secured a series win after defeating the Red Sox 8-3 in Sunday’s rubber match at PNC Park. 

Bottom 1st, 2-0 PIT: The Pirates (61-65) manufactured a pair of runs on three consecutive pitches from Patrick Sandoval (1-2). Esmerlyn Valdez and Bryan Reynolds hit back-to-back doubles and Brandon Lowe plated the latter with a single to left.

Bottom 3rd, 7-0 PIT: The Pirates sent 10 men to the plate and scored five runs in the inning. Bryan Reynolds and Brandon Lowe each had an RBI single, Nick Yorke brought home two with a base hit to center and Henry Davis chipped in a sacrifice fly.

Top 5th, 7-3 PIT: Connor Wong blasted a three-run home run to left-center off Hunter Barco (1-1) to get the Red Sox (66-58) on the board.

Bottom 7th, 8-3 PIT: Yorke delivered again for the Pirates with an two-out RBI single to right field off Raymond Burgos.

Bryan Reynolds and Brandon Lowe gave the Pirates early momentum by coming through with run-scoring hits in the first inning. The Pirates kept that momentum throughout the rain-interrupted game.

Bryan Reynolds finished the game 2 for 3 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored. Reynolds is batting .412 (21 for 51) in his career against Boston.

This was the first time the Pirates won a series since taking two of three games against the Guardians from July 18-19. Pittsburgh had lost each of its last seven series.

• Lake Bachar: 3.0 innings, two hits, no runs, one walk, four strikeouts, 50 pitches/33 strikes
• Hunter Barco: 3.0 innings, two hits, three runs, one walk, four strikeouts, 47 pitches/26 strikes
• Bryan Reynolds: 2 for 3, one double, one walk, two RBI, two runs
• Esmerlyn Valdez: 2 for 4, two doubles, one walk
• Nick Yorke: 2 for 4, three RBI
• Brandon Lowe: 2 for 4, two RBI, one run

• Lake Bachar, who started the game for the Pirates, matched a career-high in innings pitched. He’s thrown three innings six times in his career.
• Nick Yorke’s three RBI were a career-high.
• In his 87th game and the 102nd plate appearance of his career, Billy Cook drew his first MLB walk in the third inning.
• The game was delayed for 2 hours ad 34 minutes after the sixth inning due to rain.
• The Pirates recalled LHP Hunter Barco and INF/OF Nick Yorke from Triple-A Indianapolis. RHP Wilber Dotel and INF Jack Brannigan were optioned to Indianapolis.

The Pirates will welcome the Tigers to PNC Park to start a three-game series on Monday night. Pittsburgh has yet to announce a starter. Detroit will send out LHP Framber Valdez (7-8, 4.26 ERA). First pitch: 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN/93.7 The Fan.

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