Boston Red Sox's Jarren Duran reacts after hitting a three-run in field home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

Duran’s inside-the-park homer carries Red Sox past Pirates 5-2 to prevent series sweep

BOSTON (AP) — Jarren Duran hit an inside-the-park homer, Lucas Giolito pitched six effective innings and the Boston Red Sox beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-2 on Sunday to avert a three-game sweep.

In a tight race for one of three American League wild cards, the Red Sox won for the eighth time in 11 games.

Alexander Canario hit a solo homer over the Green Monster for Pittsburgh, which had won nine of 12.

Duran’s three-run homer into the Fenway Park triangle in right-center field capped a four-run fifth against starter Mitch Keller (6-13), pushing Boston ahead 4-1.

Coming off his best start of the season, when he went eight shutout innings last Tuesday in a victory over Baltimore, Giolito (10-2) gave up a run and three hits. He struck out six and walked five.

Aroldis Chapman got three outs for his 27th save.

Giolito breezed through the first three innings with the help of center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela, who made a diving catch. But the right-hander walked the bases loaded in the fourth before uncorking a wild pitch that gave Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead.

Roman Anthony had an RBI groundout for the Red Sox in the fifth. Rafaela drove in a run with an infield single in the sixth.

Pirates third baseman Cam Devanney, who grew up about 45 minutes away in Amherst, New Hampshire, made his major league debut and went 0 for 3 with a walk.

Key moment

Duran hit a line drive into right-center and the ball got past Canario, who tried to cut it off from right field. It rolled into the Fenway triangle, where it caromed off the side wall of Boston’s bullpen and briefly got past center fielder Oneil Cruz as the speedy Duran raced around the bases.

Key stat

Because of Nick Gonzales’ error at second base to start the Boston fifth, all four runs off Keller were unearned.

Up next

Pirates: Open a three-game series at home against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night.

Red Sox: RHP Brayan Bello (10-6, 2.99 ERA) is scheduled to start Monday afternoon against Cleveland. LHP Parker Messick (1-0, 0.66) goes for the Guardians.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Fans cheer as Boston Red Sox’s Jarren Duran runs to home plate to score after hitting a three-run in field home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
Boston Red Sox catcher Carlos Narváez, left, and Aroldis Chapman (44) shake hands at the end of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
Pittsburgh Pirates’ Alexander Canario (29) high fives third base coach Mike Rabelo after hitting a home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
Boston Red Sox pitcher Aroldis Chapman, second from left, and catcher Carlos Narváez, right, celebrate with teammates and coaches after defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates in a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Create a free account

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

Related Articles