The long ball has doomed Anthony Ranaudo during his short tenure in the bigs.
The Boston Red Sox right-hander looked more or less solid during the 4-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night at PNC Park, but in what has become the trend for the young pitcher, a couple of pitches proved to be the difference.
Ranaudo gave up a two-run homer to Russell Martin in the second inning and a solo shot to Starling Marte in the sixth inning, and that was all the offense Pittsburgh needed as the Sox failed to cross the plate. Ranaudo has now given up 10 home runs in just 32 major-league innings.
But if Ranaudo can figure out how to keep balls in the park, he could have a bright future with the Sox. The righty allowed just three hits, walked three batters and struck out three over 5 2/3 innings.