BRADENTON, Fla. – Josh Beckett was happy with his outing — until the fifth inning.

Beckett failed to record an out in Pittsburgh’s six-run fifth as the Boston Red Sox lost 9-4 to the Pirates on Sunday.

“It’s a shame that a whole outing gets ruined by one inning, but that’s kind of the case,” Beckett said. “I feel like I pitched well in the middle three innings.”

Beckett worked four-plus innings and allowed five runs on four hits, walked two and struck out five. He threw 76 pitches. He faced four batters without getting an out in the fifth. Four of the Pirates’ six runs in the inning were charged to him.

“That’s not how it’s supposed to end, because I was feeling good,” Beckett said.

It was Beckett’s third outing of spring training. On Feb. 28, he had mild concussion symptoms after being struck in the head by a ball during batting practice.

“I think I’ve caught back up completely from the concussion,” Beckett said. “I didn’t feel tired.”

Ronny Cedeno began the bottom of the fifth with a solo homer to left field. Dusty Brown walked, Andy Marte blooped a double and Jose Tabata was hit by a pitch.

Neil Walker lined the first pitch from reliever Scott Atchison into right for a tying single. Pedro Alvarez’s double put the Pirates up, 5-3. Lyle Overbay added a two-run single.

The first hit off Beckett was John Bowker’s two-out, solo home run in the second inning. It was Bowker’s second homer this spring.

Mike Cameron’s two-run double in the third inning gave the Red Sox a 2-1 lead. Lars Anderson homered, singled and scored two runs. Drew Sutton walked, singled and scored once.

• Red Sox pitchers Clay Buchholz and Tim Wakefield will pitch a camp game today. They each will pitch in separate split-squad games Friday.

YANKEES: Mariano Rivera struck out all three batters he faced during his initial outing, New York’s 9-2 loss to the Twins.

Jason Kubel and pinch-hitter Matt Brown struck out looking, while Luke Hughes went down swinging against Rivera, who threw nine of 12 pitches for strikes during the sixth inning.

TIGERS: Miguel Cabrera had three hits and two RBI to help the Detroit Tigers beat the Orioles 9-1. The 27-year-old Cabrera was arrested Feb. 16 on suspicion of driving under the influence and resisting an officer without violence, both misdemeanors. He started the spring with a 4 for 23 slide, and is now batting .303.

DODGERS: Third baseman Casey Blake is expected to be sidelined for a few days because of an injury to a muscle near the back of his rib cage.

RAYS: Jose Bautista and Eric Thames homered to help the Blue Jays beat the Rays 9-3.

Brandon Morrow allowed two runs, one earned, and three hits in four innings for Toronto. Morrow struck out six and walked none. Johnny Damon singled and scored on an error in the first.

 

Copy the Story Link