Konnor Griffin homers twice as Pirates outslug Red Sox 16-7 in spring training matchup
Big innings and early prospect impact define Boston’s Feb. 24 Grapefruit League loss
The Boston Red Sox were outpaced 16-7 by the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, in a Grapefruit League game that swung decisively during Pittsburgh’s multi-run middle innings. The Pirates scored in seven of nine frames and finished with 21 hits, capitalizing on traffic on the bases and several extended innings.
Pittsburgh’s surge was driven by shortstop Konnor Griffin, who hit two home runs—one in the second inning and another in the fourth—to put the Red Sox in an early deficit. Griffin finished with four RBIs, accounting for a key share of Pittsburgh’s early run production and helping set the tone for an offense that repeatedly turned baserunners into crooked numbers.
Pittsburgh built a 6-0 lead by the fourth inning and scored 10 runs across the fourth and fifth alone.
The Pirates opened the scoring in the second when Griffin hit a two-run homer. They added another run in the third on an RBI single by Nick Gonzales after Jake Mangum tripled, and Griffin’s solo shot in the fourth pushed the margin further. Pittsburgh continued to add on in the fourth with run-scoring hits from Mangum and Gonzales, building a six-run advantage before Boston got on the board.
Boston’s first breakthrough came in the bottom of the fourth when Ceddanne Rafaela hit a solo home run. The Red Sox narrowed the gap further in the fifth with a two-run homer from Willson Contreras, but the game’s rhythm remained dictated by Pittsburgh’s ability to stack baserunners and convert them with sustained contact.
Key Pirates contributors included Griffin (two homers, four RBIs), Mangum (multiple run-producing moments including a triple), and Gonzales (multiple RBIs).
Boston’s extra-base highlights included home runs from Rafaela and Contreras, with additional scoring aided by situational plays in the middle innings.
After Boston’s fifth-inning response, the Pirates continued to tack on runs in the sixth and seventh, keeping the Red Sox from fully resetting the game state. Boston added two runs in the seventh to reach seven total, but Pittsburgh’s late scoring—three more runs in the ninth—re-established separation and closed the scoring at 16-7.
As a spring training result, the game provided extended looks at a wide range of players and situations, from early-inning pitching execution to late-inning defensive and bullpen sequencing. For Boston, the offensive flashes from Rafaela and Contreras stood out, but the overall line reflected how quickly a game can tilt when an opponent strings together extra-base hits and sustained on-base pressure.