Paul Skenes earns win in Fenway Park debut as Pirates beat Red Sox, 4-2

Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Aug 29, 2025

Published in Baseball

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BOSTON — Fenway Park, meet Paul Skenes.

Skenes pitched six innings in his first appearance at one of baseball’s cathedrals, allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits, while a three-run sixth from the Pirates’ veterans propelled them to a 4-2 win against the Red Sox on Friday night.

The Pirates did their damage with four consecutive hits in the sixth. Down 2-0, Nick Gonzales and Bryan Reynolds singled, chasing Boston starter Payton Tolle from the game, then Tommy Pham scored both with a double to deep center field off reliever Greg Weissert. Andrew McCutchen followed with a double of his own, scoring Pham and giving the Pirates the lead.

McCutchen finished the game 3 for 4 with two doubles and an RBI.

For most of the game, the biggest introduction was not Skenes to Fenway but Tolle to the major leagues. Tolle, a 22-year-old lefty making his big league debut, allowed just one hit in his first five career innings, striking out eight. He struck out the first batter he faced, K’ed four in two innings and generally diced up the Pirates until the sixth.

The Pirates added an insurance run in the eighth, while relievers Dauri Moreta, Isaac Mattson and Dennis Santana kept the Sox scoreless in the final three innings. Santana struck out two in the ninth for his 11th save of the year.

It was over when ...

... Ronny Simon’s hustle earned the Pirates an insurance run in the eighth. Simon, pinch running after McCutchen singled against hard-throwing Jordan Hicks, advanced from first to third on Spencer Horwitz’s single to right. The Pirates then attempted a squeeze with Henry Davis, and Simon narrowly slid under the tag from catcher Connor Wong.

Simon paid the price for it. He was helped off the field, holding his left shoulder after he slid headfirst into home. Joey Bart pinch hit for him in the ninth and grounded out to the pitcher.

On the mound

Skenes, as he often has this month, often had to pitch out of trouble. He allowed seven hits for the second time in his career and second time in August but allowed just one earned run.

He stranded runners on third base in the second, third and fourth innings through well-timed grounders and strikeouts. He finished with six strikeouts.

His lone blemishes were a solo homer he allowed to Boston rookie Roman Anthony in the fifth inning and an infield tapper in the fourth. With one out and runners on first and second, center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela hit a dribbler under Skenes’ glove. Third baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa charged it and attempted to make a spectacular sidearm throw to get Rafaela at first, but when his throw ended in right field, an unearned run came home.

At the plate

The Pirates had 10 hits, nine in the final four innings and seven against the Red Sox bullpen. Gonzales had two singles, while shortstop Jared Triolo had a double off the Green Monster in the ninth. Center fielder Oneil Cruz, who did not start against the left-hander, had his first hit since returning from the injured list with a seventh-inning single.

Most valuable player

McCutchen. On a day when a rookie looked like he’d be the biggest story, it was a veteran who provided the offense and stole the show.

Up next

The Pirates and Red Sox continue their three-game series at 4:10 p.m. Saturday. Right-hander Johan Oviedo (1-0, 3.60) will pitch for Pittsburgh against Red Sox right-hander Dustin May (7-10, 4.79).

Roster moves

Before the game, the Pirates placed reliever Kyle Nicolas on the bereavement/family medical emergency list and placed outfielder Jack Suwinski on the 10-day injured list with a right groin strain. They called up Simon and left-hander Evan Sisk from Triple-A Indianapolis.

Manager Don Kelly said Suwinski had been playing hurt. He didn’t have a timeline on when Nicolas could return.

With Sisk, the Pirates now have a left-hander at the major league level. They had eight right-handed relievers for the final three games of the St. Louis series.