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04/19 21:05 CDT Brayan Bello allows 1 hit in 6 innings as Red Sox breeze past
Pirates 8-1
Brayan Bello allows 1 hit in 6 innings as Red Sox breeze past Pirates 8-1
By WILL GRAVES
AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) --- Brayan Bello allowed one hit in six innings, Rob Refsnyder
hit his first home run of the season and the Boston Red Sox breezed past the
struggling Pittsburgh Pirates 8-1 on Friday night.
Bello (3-1) struck out seven and walked two. The lone hit he surrendered was a
leadoff double by Jack Suwinski in the bottom of the second. Bello retired the
last 11 batters he faced as the Red Sox bounced back from a dismal homestand by
handing the Pirates their fourth straight loss.
"Went out there to compete every inning," Bello said through a translator.
"This is what I wanted since the offseason, since I started working out,
showing the kind of pitcher that I am."
Refsnyder, who made his season debut Thursday after being activated off the
injured list, hit a two-run shot with one out in the fifth that chased Quinn
Priester (0-1). Wilyer Abreu, Triston Casas and Ceddanne Rafaela also homered
for Boston. Abreu finished 3 for 5, while Refsnyder and Connor Wong each had
two hits.
Cam Booser, a 31-year-old left-handed reliever who walked away from baseball
and became a carpenter after the 2017 season, allowed a run in the ninth in his
major league debut.
Booser's teammates showered him with beer, ketchup, water and whatever else was
available in the clubhouse afterward.
"I wasn't expecting anything like that," said Booser, who allowed a triple to
Alika Williams but also struck out five-time All-Star Andrew McCutchen. "That
was very special to me. And it just tied into how special the whole day was.
I'll remember every part of today for the rest of my life."
Priester, a 2019 first-round pick who was called up from Triple-A Indianapolis
on Thursday, struggled in his first big league start of the season.
The 22-year-old right-hander gave up solo shots to Abreu and Casas in the first
inning and labored from there. Priester, whose return to the majors following a
bumpy 2023 was powered by improved command that helped him pile up 20
strikeouts in three starts, struck out just two while giving up five runs, four
earned, in 4 1/3 innings.
"I think it comes down to you have to execute in the big leagues," Pittsburgh
manager Derek Shelton said of Priester. "If you don't make pitches and put
yourself into deficit counts, then balls are gonna get hit hard and I think
that's what we saw."
Pittsburgh has cooled following a 9-3 start. The Pirates have dropped seven of
nine since, with much of the attention turning to 2023 No. 1 overall pick Paul
Skenes. The right-hander struck out eight in 3 1/3 innings for Indianapolis on
Thursday, though Pittsburgh insists it is in no hurry to bring him up.
Boston, like the Pirates, started hot. The Red Sox won seven of 10 to begin the
season before dropping seven of 10 during a 10-game homestand against
Baltimore, the Los Angeles Angels and Cleveland. Injuries to prominent players
have piled up, though the starting rotation has been among the best in the
majors despite losing Lucas Giolito for the season to Tommy John surgery in
March.
Red Sox starters have posted a 1.71 ERA through 21 games, with 114 strikeouts
against 27 walks.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Red Sox: 3B Rafael Devers (bruised left knee) was held out of the lineup for a
second straight game, though manager Alex Cora is hopeful Devers won't need a
trip to the injured list. ... RHP Nick Pivetta (right elbow) is "trending" in
the right direction according to Cora. Pivetta will throw a bullpen session
soon.
Pirates: C Yasmani Grandal (left foot) served as the designated hitter for
Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday after catching seven innings Thursday. ... LHP
Marco Gonzalez (left forearm) is shut down for at least the next two weeks.
UP NEXT
The three-game interleague series continues Saturday. Kutter Crawford (0-0,
0.42 ERA) starts for Boston against Pittsburgh's Mitch Keller (2-1, 4.50).
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
