PITTSBURGH — Sonny Gray delivered seven scoreless innings for a career-high 15th victory, Wilyer Abreu supplied the early power, and the Boston Red Sox added late insurance to shut out the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 on Saturday night at PNC Park.
Gray (15-3) limited the Pirates to six hits and one walk while striking out seven. The veteran right-hander, who previously reached 14 wins three times (most recently in 2025 with St. Louis), became just the third Red Sox starter since 2019 to win 15 or more games in a season, joining Garrett Crochet and Eduardo Rodriguez. He threw 86 pitches (56 strikes) and handed a 1-0 lead to the bullpen.
Abreu provided the only run Gray needed in the second inning, crushing a 420-foot solo home run to right field off Jared Jones for his 22nd of the year. Abreu finished 3-for-4 with two doubles.
The Red Sox (66-57) padded the lead in the ninth. With runners on, Andruw Monasterio ripped a two-run double to center that scored Jarren Duran and Caleb Durbin, making it 3-0. Jahmai Jones followed with an RBI single to left that plated Monasterio for the final margin.
Erik Miller worked a perfect eighth, and Aroldis Chapman struck out two in a clean ninth to close out the shutout. Boston finished with nine hits but went just 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left several men on base.
Jones (2-5) took the loss after five innings, allowing four hits and one earned run while matching Gray with seven strikeouts. The Pirates (60-65) managed six hits total, led by two apiece from Esmerlyn Valdez and Jake Mangum, but never threatened to score. Pittsburgh committed one error.
Red Sox designated hitter Masataka Yoshida exited in the third inning with left hamstring tightness after doubling and limping into second base. He was replaced by Anthony Seigler.
The win improved Boston to 37-26 on the road. Pittsburgh dropped to 31-31 at home. The series continues Sunday at PNC Park; the Pirates indicated they are pushing ace Paul Skenes back a day, so the Red Sox will avoid facing him in the finale.
Scoring Summary
Top 2: Abreu solo HR (1-0 Red Sox)
Top 9: Monasterio two-run double (3-0); Jones RBI single (4-0)
Key Performers
Sonny Gray (BOS): 7 IP, 0 R, 6 H, 1 BB, 7 K
Wilyer Abreu (BOS): 3-4, HR, 2 2B, RBI
Andruw Monasterio (BOS): 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI
Jared Jones (PIT): 5 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 7 K (loss)
Gray’s dominant outing and the late burst gave Boston a clean, efficient road win and a series split opportunity heading into the rubber match.
