It was the biggest crowd in PNC history. Though the Pirates won, many in attendance didn’t go home happy because they are part of Red Sox Nation. For the second straight day, the Pirates played a close one and came out on top. They are now two games over .500 once again.
Boston started the scoring without the benefit of a hit. Dustin Pedroia drew a rare walk off of Jeff Karstens. He stole second and moved to third when Michael McKenry’s throw was wild. Adrian Gonzalez was retired on a ground ball that scored Pedroia with the game’s first run. Gonzalez pushed that lead to 2-0 with a solo blast in the third inning.
The Pirates went on top to stay in the fourth with a four run inning against former Bucco Tim Wakefield. Andrew McCutchen singled and Neil Walker was issued a free pass with one out. Lyle Overbay hit a three run homer on a full count pitch to make it 3-2. Ronny Cedeno doubled and Karstens batted him in with a single with two outs.
Pittsburgh had a chance to bust it wide open in the fifth, but settled for one run. Chase D’Arnaud singled and Garrett Jones doubled, putting runners at second and third with no one out. Pedroia let McCutchen’s grounder go through his legs for an error and one run. But Wakefield retired Walker, intentionally walked Overbay and then got Cedeno on an inning ending double play.
Kartens went out for the seventh but gave up solo homers to Josh Reddick and Jacoby Ellsbury. He was pulled for some relief. Daniel McCutchen gave up a double to Pedroia and gave way to Daniel Moskos who retired Gonzalez to end the inning.
The Red Sox kept the pressure on. They left two on in the eighth against Tim Wood and Tony Watson. Closer Joel Hanrahan gave up a double to Pedroia in the ninth before shutting the door.
Karstens went 6-2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out two. He was charged with all four Boston runs, with only three being earned. Wakefield allowed seven hits and five runs in six innings. He walked four and struck out two. Hanrahan has converted all of his save opportunities in 2011.
The Good
Karstens continues to get the job done.
Jones and Cedeno each had two hits.
The Bad
The Rest
This was Karstens third start against Boston and he is now 1-1. This was Wakefield’s second career start against his original team and his first decision.
Karstens has established a career high with five wins. The RBI single was the first of his career.
As was reported earlier, Dusty Brown was designated for assignment and minor league catcher Eric Fryer was brought up.
Only two current Pirates had faced Wakefiled coming into this game. Overbay was 9-27 and Cedeno was 2-3.
This was Overbay’s second three RBI game as a Pirate.
This was the second time in June the Pirates walked more than six times in a game and it was Jose Tabata’s second career three walk game.
Kartens had walked just three in his prevoius 40-2/3 innings over six starts and one relief appearance. He walked three in this game.
