Pirates beat Boston in night game

Associated Press

FORT MYERS, Fla.

Andrew McCutchen had two RBI doubles and also singled in three at-bats to help the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Boston Red Sox 7-4 in exhibition play Friday night.

McCutchen just missed hitting two homers, doubling off the Green Monster replica in the third and fifth innings.

Right-hander Clay Buchholz started for the Red Sox. He went three innings, allowing two runs on three hits, with a strikeout and also hit a batter. Buchholz was charged with the loss.

Right-hander Vicente Padilla, competing for the fifth spot in Boston’s rotation followed Buchholz. Padilla went two innings, allowing four runs on five hits — all in his first inning.

Right-hander Shairon Martis started for the Pirates. He went two scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out one en route to the victory.

David Ortiz homered for Boston.

Boston left fielder Carl Crawford, who had a setback in his rehab from mid-January surgery on his left wrist, is progressing, but manager Bobby Valentine said he isn’t expected to be ready for the start of the season.

“I never try to have the calendar dictate the health of a player and I think Carl understands that,” Valentine said. “[But] to tell you the truth, I’m not planning on him [for opening day].

“I think I said that, too, coming in, and then I might have changed my mind when he started hitting and throwing early. But I have to go back to the original.”

Boston left-hander Andrew Miller (elbow soreness) is expected to throw today.

REIMOLD BEANED

Baltimore Orioles left fielder Nolan Reimold was taken to a hospital after he was hit in the left side of the head by a fastball from Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Alex Cobb in the first inning of a 3-3, 10-inning tie on Friday.

Reimold, batting fifth in the lineup, immediately dropped to the ground and was face-down for several minutes while a hushed crowd watched nervously as Orioles trainers tended him.

Reimold eventually walked to a cart, which took him off the field. CT scans came back negative, although he does have a loose tooth.