Shaw helps Red Sox beat Pirates, 6-2
BRADENTON, Fla. – Travis Shaw kept making a solid impression for the Boston Red Sox, homering and driving in three runs Wednesday during a 6-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Shaw had a two-run homer and an RBI single, giving him eight hits and two walks in 16 plate appearances. He is pushing converted outfielder Hanley Ramirez for playing time at first base.
Pirates starter Ryan Vogelsong went three innings and allowed three runs on four hits and two walks.
“You don’t want to not pitch well, but you need to battle every once in a while,” Vogelsong said. “I’d rather have it now and get it out of the way than have it happen right before the season starts.”
Vogelsong, 38, has lost much of the zip on his fastball, so he’s evolving into a groundball pitcher. On a windy afternoon at McKechnie Field, six of his nine outs against the Red Sox came on balls in the air.
“Elevated a couple pitches and got a fly ball blown out of the ballpark,” manager Clint Hurdle said, referring to Shaw’s first-inning homer. “A bad day to give up a fly ball to left field.”
Yoan Moncada, Boston’s top prospect, was called up from minor league camp and started at second base. He went 0 for 2 with a walk.
“This is an opportunity for some young players to get some exposure to this environment, to the game at this speed and strength,” manager John Farrell said.
The Cuban free agent signed for a $31.5 million bonus in March 2015, then hit .278 in 81 games with low-Class A Greenville.
• Pirates RHP Gerrit Cole (rib) will make his first outing Sunday against Detroit.
• OF Austin Meadows sustained a fractured right orbital bone during a workout on Tuesday in minor league camp. Meadows will be examined by team doctors in Pittsburgh to determine the extent of the damage. The ninth overall pick in 2013, Meadows last season batted .307 at Class A Bradenton and .360 at Class AA Altoona.
• 3B Jung Ho Kang (broken leg) still has not been cleared for baserunning, but is doing linear movement on the infield.
• LHP Francisco Liriano will start today’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays. RHP Tyler Glasnow will start a B game against the Baltimore Orioles.