All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' loss to the Pirates, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Pivetta start undercut by long ball: Through the first five games, Red Sox starters have allowed 12 homers, each one allowed by a starting pitcher. Nick Pivetta, Tuesday's starter, was no different in that regard. In the second inning, he yielded a two-run homer to Ji Hwan Bae, and then, an inning later, a solo shot to Bryan Reynolds, who has three homers in the first two games of the series. Every Sox starter this season has allowed at least two homers. And this is all happening at a time when the temperatures are cool and the ball -- theoretically at least -- isn't traveling well at Fenway. Pivetta at least had the good sense to limit the damage with one two-run shot and another coming with the bases empty, but on a night when the Red Sox couldn't generate much offense of their own, those three runs were more than enough.
Sox hitters not rewarded: For the evening, the Red Sox had themselves just four hits; after the first inning, they had just two more, both doubles by catcher Reese McGuire. That doesn't take into account the fact that the Sox hit the ball hard most of the night, but had little to show for it. And, on a few occasions, the Pirates turned in some stellar glovework to rob the Red Sox of some hits. In the third, shortstop Oneil Cruz ranged behind the second base bag to take a hit away from Justin Turner. The top play, however, came in the eighth when Rafael Devers drove a ball to left-center. Bae, who had moved from second base to center field before the inning began, tracked the ball in front of the scoreboard, and timing his leap perfectly, jumped up to make a miraculous backhand catch, taking extra bases away from the Sox' third baseman. It was that kind of night.
TURNING POINT
In the second inning, it appeared as though Pivetta was about to get out of the inning unscathed when he fanned Canaan Smith-Njigba on a third strike for the third out. But the pitch got underneath McGuire's glove and squirted away, allowing Smith-Njibba to reach first safely. Then, the next hitter, Ji Hwan Bae, took advantage of the extra out and drove a ball into the Monster Seats for a two-run homer that, as it turned out, was all the support the Pirates needed.
TWO UP
Alex Verdugo: Though the box score shows that he had just one hit in four trips to the plate, that doesn't accurately reflect his night. He was also robbed off a hit by first baseman Carlos Santana and two other times, lined out hard to the outfield. He also made a fine running play in right to take away a double from Ke'Bryan Hayes in the eighth.
Josh Winckowski: Winckowski, shifted to the bullpen, has been effective in relief and Tuesday was no different. He gave the Red Sox three big innings in relief of Pivetta and allowed just one while enabling most of the rest of the bullpen the night off and giving the relievers a chance to re-set.
TWO DOWN
Adam Duvall: The Sox' hottest hitter in the first week cooled off Tuesday night, going 0-for-4. He fouled out to the catcher with a runner in scoring position in the first, then went down swinging in the sixth with two on and two out.
Kiké Hernandez: For the second straight game, Hernandez was without a hit in four at-bats, including two strikeouts and a weak infield pop-up.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"Complete ownership of that.'' Reese McGuire on the passed ball that allowed the second inning to continue, leading directly to two runs for the Pirates.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* The Red Sox have been without a run in 15 of their last 17 innings, dating back to Monday's first inning.
* Masataka Yoshida has scored five runs and knocked in six in his first five MLB games.
* Justin Turner has reached base multiple times in four of the first five games.
* Dating back to last season, six of Reese McGuire's last eight hits have gone for extra bases with four doubles and two homers.
* The Pirates had a stolen base in the seventh, and opponents are now 12-for-12 in stolen base attempts against the Sox.
UP NEXT
The series and the homestand wrap up in a Wednesday matinee at 1:35 with RHP Corey Kluber (0-1, 13.50) vs. RHP Mitch Keller (0-0, 7.71).