Ramirez, Bogaerts help Red Sox edge Pirates
BOSTON -- Xander Bogaerts capped a three-run eighth inning with his game-winning RBI single to lift the Boston Red Sox over the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 in a make-up of last week's rainout Thursday at Fenway Park.
Bogaerts' decisive hit was preceded by Hanley Ramirez's game-tying double to deep center with one out in the eighth. Ramirez appeared to give Boston (5-4) the lead after his two-bagger cleared the bases.
However, the Pirates challenged home plate umpire Gabe Morales' ruling that trailing runner Mookie Betts was safe at the plate, and the call was overturned.
Ramirez took third on the throw and scored on Bogaerts' opposite-field single to right.
Pittsburgh (3-6) lost 5-3 on Opening Day last Monday in Boston and was blanked 3-0 in the second game Wednesday before last Thursday's series finale was postponed.
Pirates right fielder Andrew McCutchen, a combined 0-for-9 with three strikeouts in the first two games at Fenway last week, launched a two-run homer. It the 176th of his career, tying Barry Bonds for the fourth-most in Pirates history.
Marco Hernandez also had an RBI for Boston. Mitch Moreland doubled in his Red Sox-record seventh straight game and leads the major with eight two-baggers.
Matt Barnes (2-0) was the winning pitcher for Boston with a scoreless eighth. Craig Kimbrel tossed a scoreless ninth for his third save.
Juan Nicasio (0-2) gave up the winning single to Bogaerts after Daniel Hudson coughed up the tying runs to Ramirez.
Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodriguez was tagged for three runs (two earned) on four hits and four walks while striking out eight in a 5 1/3-inning no-decision.
Pirates starter Chad Kuhl held the Red Sox to one run on five hits and struck out six over 6 1/3 innings.
Pittsburgh enjoyed a quick start this time around after failing to advance a runner past first base in last Wednesday's game at Fenway.
McCutchen blasted a first-pitch fastball from Rodriguez off the AAA sign above the Green Monster in left field following a walk to Jordy Mercer, putting the Pirates up 2-0 in the first.
Boston got a run back in the second on Hernandez's one-out double off the wall in left that plated Moreland from second.
Gregor Polanco stole third and scrambled home after Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez's throw sailed into left field with two down in the sixth, restoring Pittsburgh's two-run lead.
NOTES: Pittsburgh arrived in Boston at 12:50 a.m. after a 9-2 home loss to Cincinnati on Wednesday night. ... Boston activated LHP Robbie Ross Jr. from the 10-day disabled list and optioned RHP Ben Taylor to Triple-A Pawtucket. Ross went on the DL last Thursday (retroactive to April 3) with influenza. ... Red Sox LHP David Price (left elbow strain) threw from 90 feet Thursday and will throw a 45-pitch bullpen Saturday. RHP Tyler Thornburg (right shoulder impingement) also threw from 90 feet and INF Josh Rutledge (left hamstring strain) took ground balls before the game. ... Pittsburgh visits the Chicago Cubs while Boston hosts the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday. Pirates RHP Gerrit Cole (0-1, 6.55 ERA) faces Cubs RHP Kyle Hendricks (1-0, 6.00 ERA) and Red Sox RHP Rick Porcello (1-0, 4.38 ERA) opposes Rays RHP Chris Archer (1-0, 2.45 ERA).