Hot Bats Power Pittsburgh Pirates To Runaway Win Over Red Sox
By Matt Gajtka
Sep 17, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Ike Davis (15) hits a three run home run against the Boston Red Sox during the fifth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
For as good as their pitching and defense have been lately, the Pittsburgh Pirates remain a team defined by their bats.
They offered the latest testimony to that fact Wednesday night, when they pounded out three home runs among their 15 hits in a 9-1 trouncing of the Boston Red Sox at PNC Park.
Gregory Polanco, Neil Walker and Ike Davis all cleared the fence in the Pirates’ latest victory, which improved them to 10-2 since a four-game losing streak threatened to scuttle their playoff chances. Now, Pittsburgh has the inside track to the postseason, boasting a 2 1/2-game lead over the Brewers for the second National League wild card.
The Bucs (81-70) punctuated their third triumph in a row with three runs in the second inning and four runs in the fifth, allowing manager Clint Hurdle to give well-worn starters like Andrew McCutchen, Russell Martin and Walker a couple frames off in preparation for a busy homestretch. Pittsburgh doesn’t have another scheduled off day until the end of the regular season.
Boston starter Clay Buchholz was an important member of the Red Sox’ pitching staff last year, when they went all the way to a World Series title. He and most of his teammates are having a collective down year, and Buchholz’s drop-off continued Wednesday with a four-inning, five-run final line.
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After counterpart Francisco Liriano wriggled out of a bases-loaded predicament in the top of the first, the Pirates went right to work in the bottom half. Polanco mashed an elevated Buchholz fastball halfway up the right-field stands for a 1-0 lead, his first homer since Aug. 10 and the seventh of the season for the Pirates’ prized prospect.
An error by Boston first baseman Mike Napoli opened the door for a big second inning, as he muffed the catch on a routine throw across the diamond to allow Starling Marte to reach. Davis followed with a double down the right-field line, and Clint Barmes brought them both home with an eye-opening shot off the left-field wall. Liriano and Harrison followed with consecutive singles to produce another run.
Walker’s 21st homer into the first row of seats in right made it 5-0 in the third. It was 6-1 in the fifth when Davis lifted a three-run blast to center field off Boston knuckleballer Steven Wright. The bomb was Davis’ 11th of the year and 10th since arriving via trade in April, giving the Pirates a franchise-record nine players with 10 or more homers.
Barmes, making his second consecutive start at shortstop in place of the ailing Jordy Mercer (back stiffness), finished with a team-high three hits on the night. Harrison had two, including an eighth-inning double that boosted his batting average to .318, second in the NL to Colorado’s Justin Morneau. McCutchen, Walker and Davis also joined the multi-hit parade.
As for Liriano, he wasn’t as dominant as he had been in his previous two starts, but he survived five walks to allow only one run in six innings. The Pirates turned two double plays behind Liriano to help him work through all the free baserunners.
The Sox (66-86) got their lone run in the fifth, when pinch-hitter Bryce Brentz doubled and scored.
Gerrit Cole will toss against Boston’s Brandon Workman in the finale of this three-game interleague series. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. Thursday.