Red Sox 0 - 4 Pirates
Final
  for this game

Pirates blank Red Sox

Sep 17, 2014 - 5:43 AM Pittsburgh, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - Russell Martin hit a two-run homer and Starling Marte added a solo shot in the Pittsburgh Pirates' 4-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday.

Pittsburgh starter Charlie Morton (6-12) gave up just four hits while striking out six over five innings in his return from the 15-day disabled list. The right-hander, who had been out of action since Aug. 15 due to a sports hernia, won for the first time since July 2.

The Pirates, who have won five of six, hold the National League's second Wild Card spot.

Anthony Ranaudo (3-3) allowed three runs on four hits with three walks over 5 2/3 innings for the Red Sox, who took three of four from Kansas City over the weekend.

The Pirates took a 2-0 lead in the second. Neil Walker walked and crossed the plate on Martin's blast to right-center field.

"It was nice for us to get out in front and create some separation," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said.

Boston's best chance to score early on came in the fourth. Yoenis Cespedes reached with a ground-rule double, Mike Napoli walked and Cespedes advanced to third after Will Middlebrooks grounded into a double play. Jackie Bradley Jr. popped out to end the threat.

Pittsburgh took a 3-0 margin on Marte's homer in the sixth. Travis Snider added an RBI single in the seventh.

Cespedes struck out with men on second and third in the eighth.

"We had a number of opportunities...and we couldn't cash in," Red Sox manager John Farrell said.

Bobby LaFromboise, Jared Hughes, John Holdzkom, Tony Watson and Mark Melancon came out of the bullpen to secure the seven-hit shutout for Pittsburgh in the opener of this three-game series.

Game Notes

These two clubs are meeting for the first time since the Pirates won two of three in Pittsburgh during the 2011 season ... The Red Sox went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight ... Each team had seven hits.






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