PITTSBURGH -- Brandon Lowe summed up the stretch run with a line that fit the moment perfectly: “You've been riding the bike for this long now,” veteran Brandon Lowe said pregame. “Just hold on to the handlebars and don't fall off.”
The Pirates did exactly that Sunday, and then some. Behind a fast start and a bullpen that steadied after a brief wobble, Pittsburgh beat the Red Sox 8-3 in a rain-soaked finale that lasted through a two-hour, 34-minute delay. The win gave the Pirates their first series victory since taking two of three from the Guardians on July 18-19.
Pittsburgh wasted no time putting Patrick Sandoval in trouble. The offense opened with three straight hits in the first inning, with Esmerlyn Valdez and Bryan Reynolds both doubling to drive in the game’s first run. Lowe then singled to left to bring home Reynolds and make it 2-0.
The Pirates kept pressing against the left-hander in the third. Jared Triolo, moved into the leadoff spot as Pittsburgh tried a new look against southpaws, started the inning with an infield single. Valdez followed with his second double of the day, Reynolds singled to score Triolo, and Lowe came through again with a single that plated Valdez.
The rally didn’t stop there. Jake Mangum and Nick Yorke added back-to-back singles to push across two more runs, and Henry Davis finished off the five-run inning with a sacrifice fly. Just like that, Pittsburgh had built a 7-0 cushion.
On the mound, the Pirates got three scoreless innings from Lake Bachar, who started in place of Paul Skenes after the reigning Cy Young winner’s turn was pushed to Wednesday. Hunter Barco handled the fourth cleanly before Connor Wong broke through with a three-run homer in the fifth.
That was the lone real dent in Pittsburgh’s day. The bullpen did the rest, and the early burst was enough to carry the Pirates to a much-needed win as August wears on and postseason spots stay very much in play.
In Other News...
Pirates Suddenly Have A Jake Mangum Decision As Oneil Cruz Returns
Jake Mangums arrival gave the Pirates a useful jolt in the middle of a stretch when they needed coverage in center field. After debuting in the majors with Tampa Bay earlier this year and later coming to Pittsburgh in a trade, Mangum stepped into everyday duty when Oneil Cruz went on the injured list with hand fractures. He handled the opportunity well enough to keep himself in the conversation even after the roster around him changed.
Cruz is now back on the active roster, which naturally changes the picture in the outfield and in the lineup. But Mangums presence has given the Pirates a harder decision than they might have expected, because his playing time has not gone away and his all-around approach has already earned attention inside the clubhouse. For a team trying to sort out the best mix of defense, depth and production, this is the kind of good problem that can linger for a while. [Read more 🡒]
Oneil Cruz Is Back But Don Kelly Started A Frustrating Debate
Oneil Cruz was finally back on the active roster after a stretch of more than two months on the 60-day injured list, a return the Pirates had been waiting on since fractures in his left hand sidelined him. The timing should have made for a straightforward reinsertion into the lineup, especially with Cruz carrying strong offensive numbers against left-handed pitching before the injury, but manager Don Kelly went a different direction against the Tigers.
Kelly opted not to start Cruz, pointing to the matchup as part of the decision, which naturally pushed the conversation into frustrating territory for a player whose bat has been missed. The Pirates have also acknowledged Cruz is still working through some residual discomfort after the hand fractures healed, so even with the roster move complete, the path back to everyday action does not appear quite settled yet. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Just Gave Antwone Kelly Another Chance To Prove Himself
Antwone Kelly is getting another look in the majors after the Pirates recalled the right-hander from Triple-A Indianapolis and sent Isaac Mattson back down to clear a roster spot. It is Kellys fourth recall, and the club is rewarding a pitcher who has recently thrown the ball well in both Pittsburgh and Indianapolis while keeping his name in the mix as the staff shuffles for the stretch ahead.
Kelly is expected to be available for the upcoming game against the Detroit Tigers, where he should fit into a bulk relief role behind the starter. For Pittsburgh, that gives the bullpen another option to bridge innings, and for Kelly it is another chance to turn recent momentum into something more lasting at the major league level. [Read more 🡒]