The Pittsburgh Pirates made a winner out of Paul Skenes in a matchup of exciting young pitchers, scoring three runs in the sixth inning in a 4-2 win over MLB-debuting Payton Tolle and the Boston Red Sox in the opener of a three-game series Friday night.

Skenes (9-9) scattered a career high-tying seven hits but allowed just two runs (one earned) and struck out six across the first six innings.

Tommy Pham hit a game-tying, two-run double while Andrew McCutchen went 3-for-3 with the deciding RBI for Pittsburgh, which has won three of its last four.

Relievers Dauri Moreta, Isaac Mattson and Dennis Santana each pitched scoreless innings to finish out the win.

Skenes outdueled Tolle, who struck out eight and allowed just three hits over 5 1/3 innings. Both runs charged to Tolle scored after

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