Red Sox Look To Win Pirates Series Before Returning To Fenway Park originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Red Sox will try to finish their road trip with a series victory Sunday afternoon. Boston and the Pittsburgh Pirates will play the rubber game of their three-game series at PNC Park. First pitch is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. ET.
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The Red Sox split the first two games after arriving in Pittsburgh on a five-game losing streak. The Pirates won Friday’s opener 8-4 before Boston responded with a 4-0 victory Saturday.
“Last one before we head home,” the Red Sox wrote on X while announcing their lineup for the finale.
Boston enters Sunday with a 66-57 record and sits third in the American League East. Pittsburgh is 60-65 and last in the National League Central.
Patrick Sandoval will start Sunday’s finale for Boston. The left-hander enters with a 1-1 record, 3.30 ERA and 29 strikeouts across 30 innings. Sandoval has allowed 38 hits and 13 walks, giving him a 1.70 WHIP.
Pittsburgh will counter with right-hander Lake Bachar, who is 1-2 with a 3.97 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 65 2/3 innings.
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Bachar is starting in place of Paul Skenes. Pittsburgh pushed Skenes’ scheduled appearance back three days to provide additional rest after his recent velocity decline. The Pirates said the decision was not related to an injury.
Boston evened the series Saturday behind another strong performance from Sonny Gray. The veteran pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing six hits and one walk while striking out seven. Gray improved to 15-3 and lowered his ERA to 2.99.
Wilyer Abreu supplied much of the offense with a home run and two doubles. The Red Sox carried a 1-0 lead into the ninth before Jarren Duran, Andruw Monasterio and Jahmai Jones helped produce three insurance runs.
Red Sox Enter Finale With Lengthy Injury List
Boston will play the series finale without two more players after making multiple injured-list moves Sunday. Masataka Yoshida is going on the injured list with a left hamstring strain. He suffered the injury while running out a double during Saturday’s third inning. Mickey Gasper was recalled from Triple-A Worcester to replace him.
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The Red Sox also placed Justin Slaten on the injured list with elbow soreness and recalled left-hander Raymond Burgos. Slaten’s injury further reduces Boston’s late-inning bullpen depth. Setup man Garrett Whitlock went on the injured list Thursday with right elbow inflammation.
Boston also remains without Roman Anthony, Trevor Story, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Curtis Mead and Garrett Crochet. Several reinforcements are progressing toward returns. Story is beginning a rehab assignment with Worcester, Anthony is scheduled to start one with Double-A Portland on Tuesday, and Kiner-Falefa is expected to begin playing for Worcester on Wednesday.
MORE: Red Sox Catch Massive Break Before Pirates Series Finale
Red Sox Return Home For Six Games
Following Sunday’s finale, the Red Sox will return to Fenway Park for a six-game homestand. Boston will host the Arizona Diamondbacks for three games beginning Monday night. The first two games are scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET, followed by Wednesday’s series finale at 4:10 p.m. ET.
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The Red Sox then will host the San Francisco Giants for three games beginning Friday. Saturday’s game is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET, with the homestand concluding Sunday afternoon. Before returning home, Boston has an opportunity to secure a winning series in Pittsburgh and finish its six-game road trip on a positive note.
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