Six Pirates pitchers combined for a seven-hit shutout and Russell Martin provided the big blow as the Bucs defeated the Red Sox 4-0 on Tuesday night.
Charlie Morton made his first start in a month due to a “sports hernia” and looked like his 2013 self as he went five shutout innings against the World Champs.
Morton allowed minimal damage through the first three innings before getting into some trouble in the fourth. Yoenis Cespedes double to start the inning and Mike Napoli followed by working a walk. Morton then did what he does best and induced a ground ball for a double play. Jackie Bradley Jr. followed with a pop out to second to end the inning.
Christian Vazquez started the fifth with a double, but Morton escaped again with two strikeouts and a groundout. He finished with six strikeouts.
“I think the sinker played pretty well tonight, threw a couple of good curveballs and got some ground balls,” said Morton. “I really didn’t have any expectations but to give it what I got.”
Pirates skipper Clint Hurdle then went to five bullpen arms to complete the shutout. Bobby LaFromboise, Jared Hughes, John Holdzkom, Tony Watson and Mark Melancon threw four scoreless while striking out six to close things out.
“They’ve been in a very good place out there,” said Hurdle. “There’s some defined roles and some guys we’re letting know early how we’re going to go. Everyone out there has been focused and preparing well and their ready. There has never been any ego’s out there. They’re just looking to get the ball and just do the best job when they get it and they’ve definately been respondent to any action or any calls we’ve had here for a while. It’s been fun to watch him work.”
The Pirates (80-70) were led by Russell Martin, who hit a second inning two-run home run to right center off of Red Sox starter Anthony Ranaudo.
“I looked at video and saw that [Ranaudo] was pretty aggressive with the first pitch,” said Martin. “Typically, if we see someone that we haven’t seen before, we take a couple pitches, but I wasn’t feeling too good today. I was a bit under the weather and didn’t take BP, so that was actually my first swing of the day. It ended up being a good one. I wasn’t feeling good, so I felt I didn’t want to waste too much time and took a swing at a pitch he obviously didn’t want to throw down the middle.”
Starling Marte added insurance in the sixth with a solo shot into the Pirates bullpen and Travis Snider ended the scoring with a RBI single in the seventh.
Final Score: Pirates 4, Red Sox 0.
The win drops the Pirates playoff magic number to 11.
Injury Update: Jordy Mercer was scratched from the lineup with “back tightness”.
“Earlier in the cage today, his back tightened up and he was unable to get loose,” Hurdle said.
Starters Lines
Morton (W, 6-12): 5 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 6 K’s. 92 Pitches (65 Strikes).
Ranaudo (L, 3-3): 5 2/3 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K’s, 2 WP, 2 HR. 99 Pitches (58 Strikes).
The Pirates will look to keep their winning ways going tomorrow evening.
Tomorrow’s Starters
(LHP) Francisco Liriano (PIT): 5-10, 3.53 ERA
(RHP) Clay Buchholz (BOS): 8-8, 5.19 ERA
First pitch is set for 7:05.
(Photo Credit: Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
