Red Sox take advantage of walks against Bucs

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.

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.

"A lot of patience. I think they threw 230 pitches," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "You're seeing guys stay with a consistent approach and staying with the process and we maintained that."

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: Slugger Mike Napoli will make his debut in a Red Sox uniform in Friday night's 7:05 p.m. ET home game against the Pirates. Ace Jon Lester draws the start. Third baseman Will Middlebrooks is expected back in the lineup after having a scare with his right wrist on Wednesday.