Sox dominate Pirates 16-6
Final Score: Boston Red Sox 16, Pittsburgh Pirates 6
Thursday was a good day to get extra plate appearances for the Red Sox hitters. An awful afternoon for Pittsburgh pitchers made for plenty of opportunities for Red Sox hitters to come to the plate. Leadoff hitter Jackie Bradley Jr. came to the plate five times in the first seven innings, hitting three singles and scoring a pair of runs. The Sox took advantage of this and dominated the Pirates 16-6.
Pirates’ pitchers issued 15 walks in the game, including four bases-loaded walks in the first four innings: two to Lyle Overbay, one to David Ross, and one to Juan Carlos Linares.
Highlights
- Boston’s John Lackey retired Pittsburgh on eight pitches in the first inning. Then he labored through a 35-pitch second inning. He struck out one, walked one and hit one, and he gave up a line-drive three-run homer to Triple-A slugger Jared Goedert on a hanging curveball.
- After falling behind 3-1 in the second inning, the Sox roared back, sending 10 batters to the plate in the third inning and scoring four runs. Then they scored five runs in the fourth inning.
- Eight Pittsburgh pitchers allowed 14 hits and 15 walks which enabled 18 of Boston’s players make at least one plate appearance. All but two reached base by hit or walk and ten had at least one RBI.
Players of the Game
- Jackie Bradley Jr. was 3 for 5 with a stolen base and scored three runs.
- Drew Sutton drew four walks and scored two runs.
- Juan Carlos Linares was 2 for 3 with two RBIs.
Looking Ahead
The Red Sox will host the Pittsburgh Pirates in a rematch on Friday at JetBlue Park at 7:05 p.m.