Brayan Bello Dominates as Red Sox Rout Pirates 8-1

Brayan Bello of the Boston Red Sox delivered a stellar performance on the mound, allowing only one hit and striking out seven batters over six scoreless innings, as the Red Sox defeated the struggling Pittsburgh Pirates 8-1 at PNC Park on Friday night. Bello's dominant outing, combined with a powerful offensive display from the Red Sox, led to a convincing victory.

Bello, a 24-year-old right-hander from the Dominican Republic, showcased his impressive arsenal, particularly his sharp changeup. He tied his career-high whiff mark on the pitch with nine and set a new career-best called strikes plus whiffs total with 14. Bello's command was exceptional, as he retired the final 11 batters he faced, demonstrating his ability to get stronger as the game progressed.

Why this matters: Bello's performance highlights the strength of the Red Sox's starting rotation, which currently boasts the best ERA in MLB at 1.72 over 110 innings. The young pitcher's success bodes well for the team's future, especially as they await the return of injured pitchers.

The Red Sox offense provided ample support for Bello, slugging four home runs while he was on the mound. Wilyer Abreu, Triston Casas, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Rob Refsnyder all went deep, contributing to the team's 12-hit attack. Refsnyder's two-run homer in the fifth inning chased Pirates starter Quinn Priester, a 2019 first-round pick who struggled in his first big league start of the season, giving up five runs, four earned, in 4 1/3 innings.

The game also featured the major league debut of Cam Booser, a 31-year-old left-handed reliever for the Pirates. Booser allowed one run in the ninth inning, adding to the Pirates' woes as they have now lost seven of their last nine games after a promising 9-3 start to the season.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora praised Bello's performance, noting his effective pitch selection and the sharpness of his changeup. "He was in control the whole time," Cora said. "He retired the last 11 batters he faced, and his changeup was particularly sharp. It was an impressive outing for him." The win improved the Red Sox's road record to 8-3 on the season, bouncing back from a recent homestand in which they were outscored by 22 runs.

Key Takeaways

• Brayan Bello pitched 6 scoreless innings, allowing 1 hit and striking out 7 for Red Sox.
• Red Sox offense hit 4 home runs, led by Abreu, Casas, Rafaela, and Refsnyder.
• Red Sox starting rotation has MLB's best ERA at 1.72 over 110 innings.
• Pirates starter Priester struggled, giving up 5 runs in 4.1 innings.
• Red Sox improved their road record to 8-3 on the season.