Pirates pummel sloppy Red Sox, clinch 2nd winning road trip of season

Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Aug 30, 2025

Published in Baseball

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BOSTON — The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Red Sox 10-3 on Saturday afternoon at Fenway Park, pummeling Boston starter Dustin May (7-11) before cruising. Johan Oviedo allowed two runs in five innings to earn the win, his second since returning from Tommy John surgery.

The Pirates have now won nine of their last 12 and guaranteed themselves a winning road trip, just their second of the year. They took four of six at San Francisco and Colorado from July 28-Aug. 3.

Pittsburgh took control with a five-run sixth inning, capitalizing on sloppy Red Sox defense. Oneil Cruz hit a solo homer, his first since Aug. 1, then two more runs scored on a single from Spencer Horwitz. The throw home from center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela would have beaten Joey Bart to the plate, but it got past catcher Carlos Narvaez for a throwing error, allowing Jared Triolo to run in from third. Two more scored on Nick Gonzales’ grounder up the middle.

The Pirates scored a run in the first and three in the fifth before the big inning. May was charged with seven runs, six earned, on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked four and struck out five.

Triolo and Bryan Reynolds both reached base four times. Triolo did it by going 1 for 3, reaching on a single, a walk, an error and a hit by pitch. He scored three runs. Reynolds walked three times and had a two-run single off May in the fifth.

Boston made two errors and walked seven batters. The Pirates scored their 10th run in the final inning on a wild pitch from right-hander Jordan Hicks.

It was over when ...

... Mike Burrows made his second relief appearance of the year, entering with a seven-run lead to pitch the sixth and seventh innings. After a quick out, Burrows allowed four consecutive baserunners on three singles and a hit by pitch. With the bases loaded, Burrows struck out second baseman David Hamilton and catcher Narvaez to keep a comfortable lead.

Burrows pitched out of the bullpen because the Pirates are managing his innings. He’s already doubled his 2024 totals, entering Saturday with 110 innings pitched after throwing 51 1/3 last year. He pitched two innings Saturday and allowed five hits but just the one run.

On the mound

Oviedo gave up three hits and walked three batters but only allowed two runs. Narvaez hit a solo homer off Oviedo over the Green Monster in the third inning.

At the plate

The Pirates scored 10 runs on 12 hits. Tommy Pham had two more RBIs on a bases-loaded groundout in the first and an RBI single in the fifth, bringing his total to 45.

Most valuable player

Triolo scored three runs, tying the career high he set in 2023.

Up next

The Pirates will go for the sweep at 1:35 p.m. ET Sunday. Mitch Keller (6-12, 4.35 ERA) will start against right-hander Lucas Giolito (9-2, 3.47).

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