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Wandy strong over four; Ishikawa ignites bats

Starter effective against Boston before fifth-inning homer puts Bucs on board

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Pirates got a strong performance from lefty Wandy Rodriguez in Wednesday night's 4-2 victory over the Red Sox.

Over four innings, Rodriguez gave up four hits and a run, walking one and striking out two.

"I need to work on my curveball a little bit," Rodriguez said. "The last two innings I threw a lot of those because I don't think it's quite ready to go. My location was a little off today, but it's Spring Training, and I'll keep working at it."

Jake Peavy, making his second Grapefruit League start, was equally impressive for the Red Sox. The veteran righty went 4 2/3 innings and allowed four hits and a run while walking one and striking out five.

Peavy threw 74 pitches, 47 of them for strikes.

"I felt good," Peavy said. "Spring Training, you're trying to figure out your body, and maybe it was going a little bit fast there early, but things fell into place and I was able to calm down and get some good work in."

Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts, who had been having a quiet Spring Training offensively, belted two hits and drove in a run.

Jackie Bradley Jr., in the midst of a competition with Grady Sizemore to be Boston's Opening Day center fielder, was 1-for-3 with a double to the gap in right-center.

Travis Ishikawa went 2-for-3 and ripped a homer to right for the Pirates. Travis Snider added two hits of his own.

Up next for Pirates: The Pirates return to Bradenton on Thursday for their second straight night game when they host the Orioles at 7:05 p.m. ET on Gameday Audio. Southpaw Francisco Liriano will get the call for the Pirates, while the Orioles are expected to hand the ball to right-hander Bud Norris. Thursday's game marks the second of three straight night tilts for the Pirates, who will then travel to Tampa on Friday night to play the Yankees.

Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @IanMBrowne.
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