Red Sox 4 - 2 Pirates
Final
  for this game

Miller picks up first win, Red Sox edge Bucs

Jun 26, 2011 - 11:25 PM

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Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Andrew Miller picked up his first win with the Red Sox, as Boston edged the Pirates, 4-2, to avoid a three-game sweep.

Miller (1-0), in his second start in place of the injured Clay Buchholz, lasted six innings and allowed two runs -- one earned -- on five hits for Boston, which snapped a four-game slide.

Pittsburgh was looking for a season-high fifth straight win, but its bullpen faltered in the later innings.

With the score tied, 2-2, heading into the seventh, Tim Wood (0-2) was called out of the bullpen and threw four straight balls to the only batter he faced -- Marco Scutaro. Daniel Moskos came in and walked pinch-hitter David Ortiz, then bobbled Jacoby Ellsbury's bunt to load the bases.

Chris Resop came in to limit the damage and did not give up a hit, but Dustin Pedroia's groundout and Kevin Youkilis' sacrifice fly each produced a run to give the visitors a 4-2 advantage.

Alfredo Aceves and Daniel Bard both had a perfect inning of relief behind Miller, and Jonathan Papelbon shook off a leadoff walk in the ninth to lock down his 14th save of the year.

"We persevered. We grinded one out," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said.

The Red Sox left five runners on base over the first three innings before breaking a scoreless tie in the fourth when Andrew McCutchen's throw, trying to nab a tagging-up Jarrod Saltalamacchia, sailed high and off Chase d'Arnaud's glove and into the seats along the third-base side.

Saltalamacchia was awarded home on the center fielder's error, but Scutaro booted one in the bottom half that put runners on first and third with no outs. Two batters later, Ronny Cedeno's flyout to center was enough to bring in Neil Walker, who was plunked to begin the inning.

Pittsburgh put its first three hitters on in its next at-bat, though only one run came in on McCutchen's single to left.

Pirates starter James McDonald threw away a potential double-play ball in the sixth, and the error moved Youkilis to third base, allowing him to eventually score on Josh Reddick's sacrifice fly.

Game Notes

The crowd of 39,511 set a PNC Park record and the three-game series total of 118,324 fans easily broke the stadium's old three-date series mark of 113,144 (August 10-12, 2001 vs. San Diego)...Pedroia went 1- for-5 to extend his hitting streak to 11 games...McDonald gave up two unearned runs over six innings. He allowed five hits and two walks...Pirates outfielder Jose Tabata injured his left quad beating out a bunt in the first inning. He was carted off the field and will have additional testing on Monday...Red Sox right fielder J.D. Drew left the game early because of an eye injury.






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