Final: Red Sox 4, Pirates 2

WP: Andrew Miller (1-0)
LP: Tim Wood (0-2)
SV: Jonathan Papelbon (14)

Fortuately, I did not get to watch any of this game because it sounds like the Pirates pretty much gave it away. They made 4 errors that helped lead to 3 unearned runs against them.

Kudos to all the fans in Pittsburgh, though, as they actually broke last night’s attendance record with 39,511 people heading to the ball park today. Too bad they saw an ugly game. Bucs won the series, though, and finished the homestand 4-2. I will most definitely take it.

What is probably more important, though, is the fact that Jose Tabata left the game with an apparent left quad injury after legging out a bunt single to lead off the 1st inning. He actually needed carted off the field as he was unable to even get up from the ground. It is definitely not a good sign and it looks like a DL stint is in the very near future for Tabata. Tabata’s injury opens a door for Alex Presley to show what he can do with some regular playing time once he is called up.

Final: Pirates 6, Red Sox 4

WP: Jeff Karstens (5-4)
LP: Tim Wakefield (4-3)
SV: Joel Hanrahan (22)

39,483 were on hand tonight as the Pirates set a PNC Park record for attendance. The Bucs gave them a show, too, as they won their 4th game in a row, and 2nd straight against the AL’s best team.

Jeff Karstens, as usual, did what he does. He was excellent through 6 innings while giving up just 2 ER. Clint Hurdle put hiim back out in the 7th inning and he gave up 2 solo homers and 2 outs before Daniel Moskos would close out the 7th by getting Adrian Gonzalez to fly out with a runner on 2nd.

The Pirates took the lead in the 4th inning and never surrendered it. Lyle Overbay must have read my post earlier in the day and launched a 3-run homer to put the Pirates up 3-2. Jeff Karstens would then single in Ronny Cedeno later in the inning to give the Pirates a 4-2 lead.

The Bucs would tack on another in the 5th when Andrew McCutchen hit a ground ball that went right through Dustin Pedroia’s legs to score Chase d’Arnaud to make it 5-2. In a 5-4 game in the 7th, Garrett Jones would add on some insurance with a solo homer and Joel Hanrahan would close it out for his 22nd straight save this year.

The win puts them at 39-37 and a game back of St. Louis for 2nd place in the NL Central. They remain 3 games back of Milwaukee. They’ll go for what would be an incredible sweep of the Red Sox tomorrow afternoon. James McDonald will take the mound against Andrew Miller at 1:35 PM. Bring out your brooms!