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 However, it turned out to be a worthwhile gamble. The
right-hander pitched five scoreless innings to end an eight-start
winless streak, and the surging Pirates blanked the Boston Red Sox
4-0 Tuesday night.
Activated from the disabled list before the game, Morton (6-12)
notched his first win since July 2 and helped the Pirates (80-70) to
their ninth victory in 11 games.
Morton, who allowed four hits and two walks while striking out six,
was on the DL for exactly one month due to right hip inflammation
and a sports hernia. In his previous eight starts, he went 0-3 with
a 5.09 ERA.
"We felt we've got a guy there we needed to see where he could go
and what he could bring," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "We
didn't want to wait any longer. We wanted to see what he could do,
then adjust accordingly.
"He worked hard. He challenged himself. I never saw a guy take
(simulated) games as seriously as he did. All the work and
preparation gave him an opportunity to have that success. It's a
shot in the arm for us."
Morton exceeded his own expectations simply because he didn't have
any.
"I just wanted to go out and give what I got," Morton said. "I
didn't know what was going to happen. I'm glad with the way it
turned out."
The Pirates are 1 1/2 games ahead of Milwaukee for the second
National League wild card, and they are 2 1/2 games behind St. Louis
in the NL Central. The Brewers beat the Cardinals 3-2 in 12 innings
Tuesday.
Relievers Bobby LaFromboise, Jared Hughes, John Holdzkom, Tony
Watson and Mark Melancon completed Pittsburgh's seven-hit shutout.
"We've got a lot of guys out there who know their roles and have
confidence they can get anybody out," Pirates catcher Russell Martin
said of the bullpen. "Everybody is doing their job and doing it so
well that they're making it look easier than it really is."
Martin and left fielder Starling Marte both hit home runs off Red
Sox rookie right-hander Anthony Ranaudo (3-3) to give the Pirates a
3-0 lead. Martin connected for a two-run shot in the second inning,
his 10th of the season, and Marte's 12th was a solo blast in the
sixth.
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Marte had two hits.
Ranaudo was lifted after Marte's home run. He gave up three runs and
four hits in 5 2/3 innings with three walks and three strikeouts. He
lost his third consecutive start after winning the first three
starts of his major league career.
Ranaudo has given up 10 homers in his six starts, and the long balls
have accounted for 14 of the 19 runs he has allowed.
"There was a bad pitch in there to Martin and one to Marte," Ranaudo
said. "If we look back at all my starts, the common theme is home
runs, and I obviously have to do a better job."
Red Sox rookie shortstop Xander Bogaerts ran his hitting streak to
nine games by going 2-for-4.
Pirates right fielder Travis Snider hit an RBI single in the seventh
inning to make it 4-0.
The Red Sox (66-85), last in the American League East, went 0-for-10
with runners in scoring position.
"We had a number of opportunities, but we didn't capitalize on
them," Boston manager John Farrell said. "We had our chances.
NOTES: The Red Sox will recall OF Rusney Castillo from Triple-A
Pawtucket on Wednesday night to make his major league debut against
the Pirates. He signed for seven years and $72.5 million on Aug. 23,
the largest contract ever for a Cuban defector. ... Boston INF/OF
Brook Holt, who has not played since Sept. 5, will be examined
Thursday by Pittsburgh-based concussion specialist Micky Collins.
... Pirates SS Jordy Mercer (lower back tightness) was a late
scratch from the starting lineup and was replaced by INF Clint
Barmes. ... Pittsburgh LF Starling Marte (bruised right elbow)
started for the first time since being injured last Thursday when
hit by a pitch from Philadelphia RHP A.J. Burnett. ... Red Sox RHP
Clay Buchholz (8-8, 5.19 ERA) will face Pirates LHP Francisco
Liriano (5-10, 3.53) on Wednesday night.
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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