Bucs beat Red Sox, Wakefield

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Pittsburgh closer Joel Hanrahan made sure the Pirates got to celebrate a win after the fireworks went off prematurely at PNC Park.

Hanrahan picked up his 22nd save in as many chances on Saturday in Pittsburgh’s 6-4 win over Boston, striking out Adrian Gonzalez to end the game moments after the firework operator got a little giddy on Dustin Pedroia’s drive to the wall in right field.

The operator, apparently thinking right fielder Xavier Paul had come up with the game-ending grab, started the postgame show. However, Paul couldn’t complete the catch and Pedroia raced to second as the fireworks exploded, bringing Gonzalez to the plate representing the tying run.

No biggie. Hanrahan did what he’s done all season for the surprising Pirates, shutting the door on the game’s top hitter to lift Pittsburgh to its fourth straight win and ruin Tim Wakefield’s homecoming.

“You’ve just got to keep pounding them,” Hanrahan said.

He did it for a second straight night as the Pirates sent the largest crowd in PNC Park history home happy by handing the Red Sox their fourth straight loss.

Lyle Overbay hit a 3-run homer and Jeff Karstens (5-4) pitched effectively into the seventh inning as the Pirates moved two games above .500 at 39-37.

“It’s a great feeling out there right now,” said Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle.

Gonzalez, Josh Reddick and Jacoby Ellsbury all hit solo home runs for the Red Sox, but Boston failed to make Wakefield (4-3) a winner in his first game in Pittsburgh in 18 years.