Red Sox Snap 4-Game Skid With 4-2 Win Over Pirates

Sports Illustrated

Red Sox 4 Pirates 2
Winning Pitcher: Andrew Miller (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: Tim Wood (0-2)
Save: Jonathan Papelbon (14)


Recap
They got some help from the Pittsburgh defense, who committed four errors in the game, but the Red Sox were able to get back to their winning ways, using a 4-2 victory to snap their four game skid. The game started as a pitchers' duel, as each team managed a few base runners in the first three innings, but neither squad was able to push across any runs. During those first few innings, Pirates starter James McDonald brushed back Dustin Pedroia a couple times, which made the Red Sox second baseman a little displeased. Boston started the offense in the game in the fourth inning, which got underway with a double from Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Salty then tagged up on a fly out from Josh Reddick to center fielder Andrew McCutchen. The throw bounced off third baseman Chase d'Arnaud's glove into the stands, which allowed the Red Sox to take the early 1-0 lead. However, Pittsburgh got that run right back in the bottom of the inning from a Ronny Cedeno sacrifice fly. After the Pirates took the lead in the fifth, Reddick hit a sac fly in the sixth to tie the game at two. The seventh ended up being the deciding inning, as the Red Sox managed to load the bases before recording an out, thanks to a couple of walks and an error. Pedroia then knocked in the go-ahead run with a ground out to short, and then Kevin Youkilis knocked in the insurance run with a sac fly. That 4-2 lead held into the 9th, when Jonathan Papelbon came in and was able to record his 14th save of 2011. 



The Red Sox travel to play a talented Phillies team on Tuesday at 7:05 PM ET. Boston will send Josh Beckett (6-2 1.86) to the mound against Philadelphia's Cliff Lee (8-5 2.87).