Mitch Keller Leaves Game With Shoulder Fatigue; Pirates Lost to Red Sox 5-3

PITTSBURGH — The Boston Red Sox put up four runs in the first inning against Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Mitch Keller, who left the game with right shoulder fatigue. Boston went on to defeat the Pirates 5-3 on Tuesday night at PNC Park.

The Red Sox jumped on Keller right out of the gate. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Alex Verdugo recorded a base hit to right, scoring Tommy Pham who led off the game with a single.

Christian Arroyo drove in another for Boston with a base hit up the middle on an 0-2 pitch. Eric Hosmer followed and popped a ball into shallow left field. The ball tipped of shortstop Oneil Cruz’s glove and fell for a base hit, plating another run.

Kiké Hernandez, fresh off the injured list, gave Boston its fourth run with a sacrifice fly to left.

The Red Sox added on another run in the second inning when Verdugo skied one to center. Bryan Reynolds, who was in position to make the catch, saw the ball pop out of his glove. Pham scored on the error.

Keller only lasted two innings before being removed. He gave up five runs (four earned) on five hits, three walks and struck out one batter.

Unlike the Red Sox, who were able to attack the Pirates’ starting pitcher early, the Pirates were shut down by Red Sox starter Nick Pivetta.

Pivetta, who had been struggling entering play, blanked the Pirates on just one hit across seven innings. The right-hander walked three and struck out six.

Ben Gamel was responsible for the Pirates’ only hit against Pivetta with a first-inning single.

It took until the eighth inning for the Bucs to find the hit column again when Jason Delay lined a single to center.

Later in the frame, the Pirates loaded the bases  Bryan Reynolds, who was called out on strikes. The usually mild-mannered Reynolds screamed in frustration and was ejected by home plate umpire Roberto Ortiz — the first ejection of Reynolds’ career.

Gamel followed Reynolds’ at-bat with a bases clearing double to right-center to cut Boston’s lead to 5-3. However, the Pirates never got another on base.

The Pittsburgh Pirates bullpen did a masterful job in relief of Keller. The trio of Chase De Jong, Austin Brice and Manny Bañuelos combined to face the minimum in seven no-hit innings of relief.

The Pirates will look to even up the three-game series on Wednesday night in the middle game. Roansy Contreras (3-2, 3.78 ERA) will make his first start back with the Pirates. The Bucs will face veteran left-hander Rich Hill (4-5, 4.75 ERA).