Pirates victory over Red Sox: Oneil Cruz delivers a home run, securing a 10-3 win for the surging team.
The Pittsburgh Pirates continued their impressive form, defeating the Boston Red Sox 10-3 in the third game of their series on Saturday. With the win, the Pirates extended their winning streak to eight games in ten matches, while the Red Sox, currently holding the second wild-card position in the AL, suffered their second loss in the series.
In the final game of the series, Mitch Keller (6-12, 4.35 ERA) will pitch for the Pirates. On the other hand, Lucas Giolito (9-2, 3.47 ERA) will take the mound for the Red Sox.
The Pirates' offense was on fire in the sixth inning, with Oneil Cruz and Romy Gonzalez driving in two runs each. Cruz's homer, a 426-foot drive into the Green Monster seats, was his 19th of the season. Gonzales followed with a two-run single, giving the Pirates a commanding 9-2 lead.
The Red Sox's Dustin May, the right-hander acquired from the Dodgers, had a tough outing, permitting seven runs, six earned, and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. This was May's worst start since his acquisition on July 31.
The Pirates loaded the bases in the fifth inning without a ball leaving the infield, leading to Bryan Reynolds' two-run single, giving the Pirates a 3-2 lead.
Trevor Story, Boston's shortstop, successfully stole second base in the fourth inning, improving his stolen base record to 24 for 24 this season. However, it wasn't enough to prevent the Pirates' victory.
Besides Cruz and Gonzales, Reynolds, Tommy Pham, and Nick Gonzales each drove in two runs for the Pirates. Carlos Narvaez hit his 12th homer for the Red Sox, and Romy Gonzalez had two hits and two RBIs.
Looking ahead to the final game of the series, the Boston Red Sox are likely to have Payton Tolle as the starting pitcher on Sunday. Tolle, a top pitching prospect, was recently called up and is expected to make his Major League debut as a starter soon.
The final game of the three-game series between the Pirates and Red Sox will take place on Sunday. The Pirates (61-76) are in last place in the NL Central, while the Red Sox (75-62) hold the second wild-card position in the AL.
