The Pirates clinched their second straight non-losing season in a rout of the Red Sox Wednesday, 9-1.
Francisco Liriano had a lot of trouble locating and walked five batters over six innings, but he kept runs off the board, in part because he only allowed three hits. Meanwhile, the Pirates offense scored early and often, bringing home at least one run in all of the first three innings before putting up a four-spot in a fifth inning capped by Ike Davis' three-run homer. Gregory Polanco and Neil Walker also contributed solo shots, and Josh Harrison, Andrew McCutchen, Walker, Davis and Clint Barmes all had multi-hit games. Justin Wilson, John Axford and Jeanmar Gomez pitched the late innings as the Pirates cruised to the win.
The game also marked the debut of new Red Sox outfielder and Cuban signee Rusney Castillo, who went 1-for-4 with an infield single.
In other relevant action, the Cardinals currently lead the Brewers 2-0, and the Giants beat the Diamondbacks 4-2.