The Boston Red Sox defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-3 last night in the opening game of a three-game series at PNC Park. Boston jumped on Pirates starting pitcher Mitch Keller for all five runs in the first two innings of the game. Keller was removed from the game after the second inning with what the team is calling right shoulder fatigue. His record fell to 4-9 this season. He is carrying a 4.49 ERA. Ben Gamel had a three-run double in the eighth inning for the Pirates. He had two of the Bucs four hits in the game.
Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds was thrown out of the game in the eighth inning after arguing a called third strike.
The Bucs and Red Sox play again tonight at 7:05pm. Pre-game on WISR begins at 6:40pm.
Infielder Rodolfo Castro has been suspended one game for losing a cellphone out of his pocket while sliding into third base during a game with the Arizona Diamondbacks last week.
Rookie starting pitcher Roansy Contreras has been brought back up from Triple-A Indianapolis and will start tonight’s game. The Pirates were trying to limit his number of innings pitched this season after he went through an injury last year.