Red Sox Tie Pirates, Lose To Rays In Spring Training Split-Squad Action

BRADENTON, Fla. — Andrew McCutchen hit a two-run homer, and Gregory Polanco doubled twice as the Pittsburgh Pirates played to a 4-4, nine-inning tie Wednesday with a Boston Red Sox split squad.

McCutchen has hit six homers this spring, including five in his past nine games. He has reached base safely in nine of his past 11 games.

Red Sox starter David Price went four innings and gave up a run on four hits, walking one and striking out three. The left-hander will next pitch on Monday in the season opener against the Cleveland Indians.

Ryan Hanigan and Blake Swihart hit back-to-back RBI singles in the first inning. Chris Young had an RBI triple in the fifth.

Pirates left-hander Jon Niese worked four innings, allowed two runs on five hits and struck out five.

Jason Rogers, who’s trying to win a bench job with the Pirates, had a run-scoring single and walked four times.

RALLY COMES UP SHORT VS. RAYS

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Drew Smyly pitched four hitless innings and struck out seven in his final spring training start to lead the Tampa Bay Rays to a 4-3 victory over a Red Sox split squad.

Mike Mahtook and Brad Miller homered off right-hander William Cuevas, who allowed four runs and six hits over 5 2/3 innings for the Red Sox. Miller also had a RBI double off Cuevas.

Smyly retired nine in a row before walking Brock Holt leading off the fourth. He struck out Dustin Pedroia, Xander Bogaerts and David Ortiz to finish his 61-pitch outing.

Boston’s Hanley Ramirez had two hits, including a RBI double, to raise his spring batting average to .320. Travis Shaw singled to drive in the second of three runs the Red Sox scored off reliever Enny Romero in the seventh.

Thumbnail photo via Butch Dill/USA TODAY Sports Images