Pirates issue 15 walks in loss to Red Sox

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Jose Iglesias, J.C. Linares and Lyle Overbay drove in two runs each Thursday as the Red Sox downed the erratic Pirates, 16-6, in Grapefruit League play.

The bulk of the scoring by Boston (3-4) came on four walks with the bases loaded and two errors by Pirates (2-3) shortstop Josh Harrison that let in three other runs.

Pirates starter Jameson Taillon, the club's No. 2 prospect making his debut against big league competition, was exempt from the control woes, issuing only one in his two innings. Taillon allowed one hit and struck out three in his only exhibition appearance prior to departing on Sunday to join Team Canada for the World Baseball Classic.

"I liked it a lot. I liked the pace and the rhythm," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said about Taillon. "He kept the ball down and threw some very hard breaking balls. I thought he pitched very well today, with very good poise."

Both of Overbay's RBIs came on bases-loaded walks. Pirates pitchers had issued a total of 10 walks in their first four games, but they teamed up for 15 bases on balls on Thursday -- including three consecutively with the bases loaded in a five-run fourth inning.

The Bucs did their scoring in louder fashion, but Jared Goedert's three-run homer, off starter John Lackey in the second, and Felix Pie's two-run shot, off Chris Hernandez in the fifth, couldn't keep up with the permissive pitching.

Up next: In their first of only two split-squad days of the spring, the Pirates will visit the Orioles in the afternoon and meet the Red Sox at night in Fort Myers. James McDonald is scheduled to face Baltimore in the 1:05 p.m. ET game, with lefty Jeff Locke starting against the Red Sox at 7:05 p.m.