Paul Skenes helps Pirates beat Red Sox 4-2. Boston lefty Payton Tolle strong in major league debut

By: Jimmy Golen, The Associated Press Posted: 8:47 PM CDT Friday, Aug. 29, 2025 Last Modified: 8:14 AM CDT Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025

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BOSTON (AP) — Paul Skenes pitched six strong innings, and Tommy Pham and Andrew McCutchen hit back-to-back doubles after the Pirates chased Red Sox phenom Payton Tolle in his major league debut, rallying Pittsburgh to a 4-2 victory on Friday night.

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Skenes (9-9) allowed one earned run on seven hits and a walk, striking out six in six innings. Dennis Santana pitched the ninth to earn his 11th save and give the last-place Pirates their seventh win in nine games.

Called up earlier in the day when World Series clincher Walker Buehler was released, Tolle had a one-hitter through five innings and was lifted after allowing back-to-back singles with one out in the sixth. After shaking hands with manager Alex Cora on the mound, Tolle walked off to a standing ovation, looking to the sky as he left the field.

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

Pham followed with a line drive off Greg Weissert (6-5) over the center fielder’s head, tying the game 2-all and depriving Tolle of the victory. McCutchen, who had three hits in the game, then doubled to give the Pirates a 3-2 lead.

Romy Gonzalez had three hits for Boston and Roman Anthony had two, including a solo homer. The Red Sox had won four in a row and seven of their last eight.

Key moment

Boston scored an unearned run to break a scoreless tie in the fourth when Skenes couldn’t get to Ceddanne Rafaela’s nubber and third baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa threw it wide of first for an error. Masataka Yoshida came around to score from second.

Key stat