Pirates’ errors help Red Sox avoid sweep

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle is convinced his surprising team can compete on a championship level on a given day.

Just not Sunday.

The Pirates tied a season high with four errors and committed a couple of other unfortunate gaffes in a 4-2 loss to the Boston Red Sox to end a four-game winning streak.

“If this was a neighborhood golf match, we probably could have used about six mulligans today,” Hurdle said.

Tim Wood (0-2) took the loss in relief as Pittsburgh’s normally reliable bullpen showed signs of stress following a busy week.

The Pirates came in looking for an unlikely sweep over one of baseball’s top teams. They posted a pair of electric victories on Friday and Saturday, but couldn’t make it three straight at packed PNC Park, which set an attendance record for the second game in a row.

Pittsburgh managed just five hits, none over the final four innings as Boston starter Andrew Miller (1-0) won his first game for the Red Sox.

Still, Hurdle remained upbeat. His team has now won home series against the Red Sox, the Philadelphia Phillies and the NL West-contending Arizona Diamondbacks. Though the Pirates missed a chance to move three games above .500 this late in the season for the first time since 1999, Hurdle praised his team’s progress.

“I think this was a great weekend for experience for us,” he said.

Pittsburgh starter James McDonald pitched effectively after moving up a spot in the rotation so the Pirates could give Charlie Morton’s tired right arm a breather.

McDonald held the Red Sox to five hits over six innings.