The Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Boston Red Sox 8-3 Sunday at PNC Park, in a game delayed by the late afternoon thunderstorms. Bryan Reynolds, Brandon Lowe and Nick Yorke drove in two runs each. Esmerlyn Valdez joined Reynolds, Lowe and Yorke with two hits. He scored two runs.
Yorke had been recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis prior to the game.
Lake Bachar started the game and worked three innings, allowing two hits and striking out four. Kirby Yates earned his first win as a Pirate by working a scoreless seventh inning, striking out two. The Pirates had jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first three innings.
The game was delayed 2-1/2 hours by weather in the sixth inning.
The Pirates won their first series since the Cleveland series immediately after the All-Star Break. The Bucs also won their franchise-best eighth consecutive home series against an American League opponent. That streak dates back to a three-game series sweep of Detroit from July of last season.
The Pirates also defeated two left-handed starting pitchers in the series.
The Tigers are in town for three games beginning tonight at 6:40pm. WISR pre-game begins at 6:15pm. Carmen Mlodzinski is scheduled to start for the Pirates. Another left-handed starting pitcher in Framber Valdez will start for Detroit.
The Pirates are now 61-65 overall, but remain 6-1/2 games out of a playoff spot.
A nine-game road trip looms this weekend in Los Angeles, San Diego and St. Louis, one of three road trips remaining in their season.
The Pirates pushed Paul Skenes scheduled start from yesterday to Wednesday afternoon’s game against Detroit.