Boston Red Sox lose to Pittsburgh Pirates 4-7 in Spring Training - MLB Update
Boston Red Sox face their second Spring Training defeat as Andrew McCutchen leads Pittsburgh Pirates to a 4-7 victory at Jet Blue Park Fenway in South Lee County, Florida in their Spring Training Grapefruit League game on March 9, 2012.
Red Sox were very much into the game for almost four innings and couple of more hits will even give them a lead. It was a start of fifth inning that their hopes were to be diminished by an addition of four runs in one inning alone by the Pirates. Though
Red Sox attempted to come up with a reply but it was not to be enough to surpass Pirates’ already huge lead.
Two RBI doubles and hits on all at-bats McCutchen faced set the Red Sox back heavily. Hits coming off his stick narrowly missed bringing a home-run twice though he was able to draw few runs in the form of doubles in the third and fourth inning.
Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz pitched for three inning was just not able to stop those hits and runs and ended up being hit thrice while conceding two runs and drawing a strike-out. Fate of the pitcher following him was hardly any different as right-hander
Vicente Padilla went for plenty and was thrashed for four runs against five hits.
Good news for Red Sox however comes from faster rehabilitation of their left fielder Carl Crawford and although nothing is confirmed regarding whether he will be making his way in next couple of games, there are clear indications of him be a part of the
club very soon.
"I never try to have the calendar dictate the health of a player and I think Carl understands that," Boston manager Bobby Valentine said. "(But,) to tell you the truth, I'm not planning on him (for Opening Day). I think I said that, too, coming in, and then
I might have changed my mind when he started hitting and throwing early.”
Despite defeat Red Sox holds an enviable position in the Grapefruit League table and currently enjoys a relatively better .60 PCT. If they record one or two more wins, they can easily make to top of the table.
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