FORT MYERS, Fla. -- On the first pitch of his first at-bat, Pablo Sandoval attempted to bunt, but pushed the ball foul down the third-base line. With an 0-2 count, he drilled a shot that left JetBlue Park over the right-field bleachers for his first home run of the Grapefruit League season.
But the Pirates came back to score three runs off left-hander Brian Johnson in the sixth inning, beating the Red Sox, 3-1, on Monday afternoon. Johnson did not record an out, and he left after allowing hits to four straight batters: Gregory Polanco, Jason Rogers, Matt Joyce and Jake Goebbert. Pedro Florimon drove in two later in the inning off Carlos Marmol, who replaced Johnson. The Red Sox announced the left-hander had a left big toe sprain and was being further evaluated.
Right-hander Ryan Vogelsong, Pittsburgh's likely fifth starter, went four innings, giving up one run on four hits with no walks and two strikeouts. The only run he allowed was Sandoval's homer with one out in the second.
"Pablo got me there," said Vogelsong. "I've seen him hit that ball plenty of times. He probably knew I was going up there. I knew I was going up there. It was just a matter of if I was going to get it by him or not."
Red Sox right-hander Joe Kelly went four scoreless innings, giving up three hits and a walk with three strikeouts and a hit batter.
David Ortiz went 1-for-3, but ended the fifth on a bases-loaded groundout.
Up next for the Pirates: After an off-day Tuesday, the Pirates will return Wednesday against the Orioles at 1:05 p.m. ET in Sarasota, Fla. Though he's probably bound for the Opening Day bullpen, right-hander Juan Nicasio will continue to stretch out his arm like a starting pitcher in his fourth appearance of the spring. Nicasio has thrown six scoreless innings so far this spring, allowing four hits and three walks while striking out six.
Up next for the Red Sox: Left-hander David Price is scheduled to make his second Grapefruit League start Tuesday when the Red Sox host the Yankees at 6:05 p.m. ET. Price went three innings on March 10 against the Twins, giving up two runs on four hits, including two home runs, and a walk with three strikeouts. Right-hander Ivan Nova gets the start for New York.