BOSTON -- Whenever players thrive under pressure, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle says they have a "slow heartbeat." It's a compliment he's often paid to Jameson Taillon, and the second-year starter earned it again Wednesday night.
Taillon escaped a critical jam in the fifth inning and held his own against Chris Sale, matching the Red Sox lefty nearly pitch for pitch over seven scoreless innings. But it wasn't enough, as the Pirates couldn't support Taillon's stellar sophomore debut and lost a 12-inning pitchers' duel, 3-0.
"He's been able to show that ability to settle down and focus on making the next pitch," Hurdle said.