PITTSBURGH — Gerrit Cole pitched into the eighth inning for yet another September win, and Starling Marte homered as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Boston Red Sox 3-2 Thursday night.
The Pirates swept the three-game series, ran their winning streak to four games and won for the 11th time in their last 13 games while keeping pace in the National League pennant race.
Entering the night, the Pirates were 2 1/2 games ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers for the second wild card and 2 1/2 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central. The Brewers and Cardinals played in St. Louis on Thursday night, and Milwaukee visits Pittsburgh (82-70) for a pivotal three-game series beginning Friday night.
Cole (10-5) won his season-best third consecutive start and is 7-1 in nine career starts in September. He worked seven-plus innings, allowing two runs and six hits while striking out seven and walking none.
Marte hit a solo shot in the fifth inning, his 13th of the season, to put the Pirates ahead 3-1, and that proved to be the difference. The left fielder had two hits for the Pirates, as did third baseman Josh Harrison.
The Pirates caught a break in the ninth inning after the Red Sox, down by a run, put runners on first and third with no outs against closer Mark Melancon.
Third baseman Will Middlebrooks hit a chopper down the third base line. The ball struck the back of pinch runner Jemile Weeks’ left leg as he dived back to the bag, and he was ruled out for being hit by the batted ball.
Melancon then retired the last two batters for his 30th save in 34 opportunities.
Red Sox right-hander Brandon Workman (1-10) lost his 10th straight decision after giving up three runs (two earned) and seven hits in five innings. He struck out six and walked three.
Rookie catcher Christian Vazquez had two hits for the Red Sox and scored on a sacrifice fly by rookie shortstop Xander Bogaerts in the eighth inning to draw Boston within a run at 3-2. However, left-hander Tony Watson struck out first baseman David Ortiz to end the threat.
Middlebrooks and left fielder Daniel Nava also had two hits for the Red Sox.
In last place in the American League East a year after winning the World Series, the Red Sox (66-87) lost for the eighth time in 11 games. They averaged just 2.7 runs a game in that span.
The Pirates pulled ahead 2-1 in the fourth inning on catcher Chris Stewart’s RBI single.
Pittsburgh first baseman Ike Davis drew a bases-loaded walk from Workman with two outs in the first inning to open the scoring. The Red Sox tied it in the third on an RBI single by rookie second baseman Mookie Betts.
NOTES: Boston DH David Ortiz returned to the team a day earlier than expected after missing the previous two games while attending to a family emergency and started at first base. The designated hitter rule is not in effect in interleague games at National League parks. … Boston INF/OF Brock Holt, out since Sept. 5 due to a concussion, was cleared to resume baseball activities after being examined Thursday by Pittsburgh-based head trauma specialist Micky Collins, a Hermon, Maine, native. … Red Sox 1B Mike Napoli and LF Yoenis Cesepedes were both rested. … Pittsburgh SS Jordy Mercer returned to the lineup after missing two games with a lower back strain. … Pirates C Russell Martin got the night off, setting him up to play all three games of the pivotal series against Milwaukee. … Pirates LHP Jeff Locke (7-5, 3.66 ERA) is scheduled to pitch Friday night against Brewers RHP Yovani Gallardo (8-10, 3.59). … Boston opens a three-game series Friday night at Baltimore against the American League East champion Orioles. Red Sox RHP Allen Webster (4-3, 6.02) is scheduled to face Orioles RHP Kevin Gausman (7-7, 3.57).