The Red Sox scored twice in the eighth inning and handed the Pirates a 6-5 loss Thursday night in Grapefruit League action.
Ivan Nova, projected as the Pirates’ No. 3 starter, held Boston to four hits and one run over five strong innings. Nova will likely start against Boston during Pittsburgh’s season-opening series against the Red Sox at Fenway Park.
Jose Osuna went 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI for the Bucs. Gift Ngoepe, who was signed by the Bucs out of South Africa in 2008, had three hits.
Pittsburgh fell to 13-6.
