The game did not seem as tight as it was thanks to a dominant performance by Gerrit Cole for the Pittsburgh Pirates. However, the Boston Red Sox threatened in the eighth and ninth innings getting runners to third in both cases. However, the Pirates got a little bit of fortune in the top of the ninth for their fourth straight win. They keep the momentum rolling entering a pivotal series with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Cole went seven innings striking out seven batters. He was cruising early as it took him just 16 pitches to get through the first two innings. Cole sat down the opposition in order five times. The Red Sox had just four hits entering the top of the eighth inning. Two singles to open the frame caused Pirates' manager Clint Hurdle to call on reliever Tony Watson. Watson induced a pop up before Xander Bogaerts scored Christian Vazquez on a sacrifice fly.
The Pirates were up a run heading to the top of the ninth inning. Closer Mark Melancon got into trouble after hitting Allen Craig and serving up a single to Daniel Nava. With pinch runner Jemile Weeks on third base, Will Middlebrooks hit a chopper down the line that hit Weeks on the leg as he was sliding back to the bag. Weeks was rightfully called out at third base. Melancon got Jackie Bradley Jr. to strikeout to strikeout looking followed by a Vazquez ground out. Melancon was exuberant on the final out, which is unusual for the usually cerebral closer.
The Pirates' runs came in the first, fourth and fifth innings. They left the bases loaded in the first inning, but managed to push across a run on an Ike Davis walk. A majestic Starling Marte solo shot in the bottom of the fifth inning would be the deciding factor as the Pirates came away with a 3-2 victory over the Red Sox.
This was the Pirates 82nd win of the season, a mark that was celebrated last year. There was barely any mention of it this season as the Pirates look to make it to the postseason. They will welcome the Milwaukee Brewers into PNC Park this weekend with a chance to virtually clinch a postseason birth. Jeff Locke and Yovani Gallardo will get the call in the opener of the three-game series.