Pirates Pound Beckett, Beat Red Sox 9-4
BRADENTON, Fla. (KDKA/AP) The Pittsburgh Pirates roughed up Josh Beckett in the fifth inning to beat the Boston Red Sox 9-4 on Sunday.
Beckett worked four-plus innings and allowed five runs on four hits, walked two and struck out five. He threw 76 pitches. He faced four batters without getting an out in the fifth. Four of the Pirates' six runs in the inning were charged to him.
It was Beckett's third outing of spring training. On Feb. 28, he had mild concussion symptoms after being struck in the head by a ball during batting practice.
Ronny Cedeno began the bottom of the fifth with a solo homer to left field. Dusty Brown walked, Andy Marte blooped a double and Jose Tabata was hit by a pitch.
Neil Walker lined the first pitch from reliever Scott Atchison into right for a tying single. Pedro Alvarez's double put the Pirates up, 5-3. Lyle Overbay added a two-run single.
The first hit off Beckett was John Bowker's two-out, solo home run in the second inning. It was Bowker's second homer this spring.
Pirates starter Brad Lincoln allowed two runs on two hits in three innings. The right-hander walked two and struck out three.
"He got into a good rhythm at times," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "There were a few times when he rushed and he was missing arm-side out, arm-side up a little bit. He's working in the right direction, no doubt."
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