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Pirates hit three homers in rout of Red Sox

Sep 18, 2014 - 4:58 AM Pittsburgh, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - Gregory Polanco, Neil Walker and Ike Davis homered as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Boston Red Sox, 9-1, in the middle contest of a three-game set.

Clint Barmes went 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored for the Pirates, who remained 2 1/2 games behind St. Louis for first place in the NL Central. The Cardinals beat the Brewers on Wednesday.

Francisco Liriano (6-10) allowed one run on three hits while striking out five over six innings for Pittsburgh, which has won 10 of 12. He won his third straight start.

Xander Bogaerts drove in the lone run for the Red Sox, who saw starter Clay Buchholz (8-9) give up five runs -- four earned -- on six hits over four innings. The right-hander had a three-start winning streak snapped.

Rusney Castillo went 1-for-4 in his MLB debut. Projected as Boston's leadoff hitter of the future, the Cuban Castillo signed a seven-year, $72.5 million deal on Aug. 23. He batted seventh and started in center field on Wednesday.

"I'm pretty satisfied with that being my first game," said Castillo. "Obviously you'd like a better outcome in terms of winning the game. But I was pretty satisfied with my overall approach and the way I stepped in today and had some results. Overall, satisfied."

Polanco ignited Pittsburgh's offense with a solo homer in the first.

The Pirates tacked on three more runs in the second. Starling Marte reached first on Mike Napoli's error and moved to third on Davis' double. Barmes followed with a two-run double to left. Liriano and Josh Harrison hit consecutive singles to plate another run.

Walker led off the third with a homer over The Clemente Wall.

"The beauty of this game ... he hits his 21st over the Clemente Wall on Clemente Day," said Pirates manager Clint Hurdle. "That's special."

Boston finally got on the board in the fifth. Pinch-hitter Bryce Brentz doubled, moved to third when Mookie Betts flied out and crossed the plate on Bogaerts' groundout.

But the Pirates responded with four runs in the bottom half. With the bases loaded and one out, Marte grounded into a fielder's choice to plate a run. Davis followed with a three-run homer.

The Red Sox went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight.

Game Notes

Liriano improved to 2-3 lifetime against Boston ... The Pirates had 15 hits, compared to five for the Red Sox ... Pirates shortstop Jordy Mercer was held out for a second straight game due to a back issue.