Before the largest crowd in PNC Park history, the Pittsburgh Pirates again won their second consecutive game against the Boston Red Sox, 6-4. The game ensured Pittsburgh will win its first-ever series against the BoSox.
Both offenses were powered by the long ball as a total of five home runs were hit.
Boston jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead on a first-inning run and a third-inning solo shot by slugger Adrian Gonzalez. The Pirates, though, answered in a big way in the fourth. Lyle Overbay hit a three-run homer off starter and former Buc Tim Wakefield and Pirates starter Jeff Karstens singled home Ronny Cedeno to give Pittsburgh a 4-2 lead.
The Bucs added another run in the fifth when Andrew McCutchen's ground ball rolled through the legs of Dustin Pedroia bringing home rookie Chase D'Arnaud.
It wasn't over, though, as Boston stormed back. Karstens, who seems to hit a wall around the sixth or seventh inning of each game, gave up two solo home runs to Josh Reddick and Jacoby Ellsbury in the seventh. That closed the gap to 5-4 and Karstens' night was over.
But the Pirates weren't finished scoring as Garrett Jones added a solo shot of his own in the bottom of that inning, giving Pittsburgh a bit of insurance. Closer Joel Hanrahan saved his 22nd consecutive game this season, ending the game by retiring the pinch-hitting David Ortiz, Ellsbury, and Gonzalez.