PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates got a lucky break when Boston pinch-runner Jemile Weeks was hit by a batted ball in the ninth inning, beating the Red Sox 3-2 on Thursday night to keep pace in the NL pennant race.
The Pirates won their fourth in a row. They began the day 2½ games ahead of Milwaukee for the second wild-card spot, and host the Brewers in a three-game series beginning Friday night.
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Down 3-2, the Red Sox put runners at the corners with no outs in the ninth against Mark Melancon. Will Middlebrooks then hit a chopper down the line and ball struck the back of Weeks’ left leg as he made a dive back to third.
Weeks was called out, and Melancon retired the last two batters for his 30th save in 34 opportunities.
Gerrit Cole (10-5) allowed two runs in seven-plus innings, striking out seven and walking none. He won his season-best third straight start.
The second-year righty improved 7-1 in nine career September starts.
Starling Marte hit his 13th homer, connecting off Brandon Workman (1-10) in the fifth for a 3-1 lead. Workman lost his 10th straight decision.
Boston had closed to 3-2 in the eighth on Xander Bogaerts’ sacrifice fly, but lost for the eighth time in its last 11 games. Cole was lifted after giving up back-to-back singles to Christian Vazquez and Garin Cecchini to start the inning.
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