Nick Pivetta pitched seven dominant innings with 10 strikeouts, Christian Vázquez hit a three-run homer and the Boston Red Sox held off the St. Louis Cardinals 6-4 on Sunday to win their fifth straight series.
Trevor Story added a solo shot and Jackie Bradley Jr. had a go-ahead single for the Red Sox which broke a 1-1 tie in the 5th.
Juan Yepez had a pinch hit three-run homer in the ninth to counter the Vazquez 8th inning home run, but the Sox held on for the win. Tyler O’Neill had three hits for the Cardinals but had to leave the game due to left hamstring tightness after legging out a double.
Making just his third career start, rookie right-hander Andre Pallante (2-2) pitched sharply into the sixth, allowing two runs, four hits, striking out four and walking one.
RHP Miles Mikolas (5-4, 2.62 ERA) is set to start on Monday in the opener of a four-game series at Milwaukee, 6:15 with the pregame and the first pitch at 7:10 on KIRX.
RHP Jack Flaherty will make his second start after returning from a right-shoulder injury on Tuesday in Milwaukee with the plan to throw about 75 pitches before there’s expected to be no limit after that.
The Brewers beat the Reds 6-3 to climb back into a tie for first place with St. Louis.