oct. 13, 2012 during the AL championship series opener against Detroit.

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - It might be way too early to call the Pittsburgh Pirates a team of destiny. But after what manager Clint Hurdle witnessed Thursday night, he had to stop and wonder. "Sometimes, youre just meant to win," he said. The Pirates got a lucky break when Boston pinch-runner Jemile Weeks was hit by a batted ball in the ninth inning, beating the Red Sox 3-2 to increase their lead in the NL playoff race. The Pirates won their fourth in a row. They now lead Milwaukee by 3 1/2 games for the second wild-card spot, and host the Brewers in a three-game series beginning Friday night. Down 3-2, the Red Sox put runners at the corners with no outs in the ninth against Mark Melancon. Will Middlebrooks then hit a chopper down the line and ball struck the back of Weeks left leg as he made a dive back to third. Weeks was called out, and Melancon retired the last two batters for his 30th save in 34 opportunities. "Ive never seen that one before," Hurdle said. Weeks said there was nothing he could have done to avoid being hit by the ball. "There was a lot involved," he said. "The play was, if its not a double-play ball, make sure you get back. It wasnt a double-play ball, got back, had to avoid getting tagged or creating a double-play situation. Thats what I did and the ball hit me on the way back." Gerrit Cole (10-5) allowed two runs in seven-plus innings, striking out seven and walking none. He won his season-best third straight start. The second-year righty improved 7-1 in nine career September starts. "Pitching like games like this is fun," Cole said. "Every game Ive pitched (in September) has been do-or-die. You want the ball in that situation. You want to do well." Starling Marte hit his 13th homer, connecting off Brandon Workman (1-10) in the fifth for a 3-1 lead. Workman lost his 10th straight decision. Boston had closed to 3-2 in the eighth on Xander Bogaerts sacrifice fly, but lost for the eighth time in its last 11 games. Cole was lifted after giving up back-to-back singles to Christian Vazquez and Garin Cecchini to start the inning. TRAINERS ROOM Red Sox: INF-OF Brock Holt, who has not played since Sept. 5 because of a concussion, was cleared to resume baseball activities Thursday after being examined by Pittsburgh-based head trauma specialist Micky Collins. Boston is hopeful Holt can play in a few games before the season ends Sept. 28. If not, he will go for the Florida Instructional League camp in Fort Myers to get some game action. Pirates: SS Jordy Mercer was back in the lineup after missing two games with a lower back strain and went 1 for 3 with a double. UP NEXT Red Sox: RHP Allen Webster (4-3, 6.02) will start Friday night in the opener of a three-game series at Baltimore, facing RHP Kevin Gausman (7-7, 3.57). Pirates: LHP Jeff Locke (7-5, 3.66) will face the Brewers Yovani Gallardo (8-10, 3.59) in the series opener. BIG PAPI RETURNS Boston designated hitter David Ortiz returned to the team and started at first base after missing the first two games of the series because of a family emergency. Ortiz was forced to play in the field because the DH rule is not in effect in interleague games at NL parks. He went 0 for 4 and struck out twice. Cheap Balenciaga . -- Nick Bjugstad snapped out of his scoring slump and spoiled Drew MacIntyres first NHL start. Fake Balenciaga . The English Football Association had charged the German right back with violent conduct after retrospectively reviewing video evidence of an incident that was missed by match officials at Craven Cottage on Saturday. https://www.fakebalenciaga.com/ . Louis second-period goal increased the New York Rangers lead but Dustin Brown has countered for the Los Angeles Kings who now trail the New York Rangers 2-1 in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final at Madison Square Garden. Wholesale Balenciaga . PETERSBURG, Fla. Fake Balenciaga For Sale . -- Having already fallen behind because of the NFL lockout, Blaine Gabbert couldnt afford a lengthy holdout.TAMPA, Fla. -- New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter has resumed on-field work for the first time since his 2013 season was cut short. The Yankees captain hit off a tee in a batting cage and fielded 108 grounders on the grass in front of the infield dirt Monday at the Yankees minor league complex. Jeter, who turns 40 in June, was limited to 17 games last year after breaking an ankle during the 2012 playoffs. "I dont think about it, and thats a good thing," Jeter said. Jeter broke his left ankle Oct. 13, 2012 during the AL championship series opener against Detroit. He was limited to five games and 11 at-bats during spring training last year, stayed behind in Florida when the team broke camp for rehabilitation and broke the ankle again in April during rehabilitation. "Its good to have a normal off-season and get some work inn," Jeter said.dddddddddddd "Everything is normal now." Jeter missed the first 91 games of the 2013 season, then felt pain his right quadriceps when he returned July 11. He went back on the DL, returned July 28 for three games, then strained his right calf. Back in the lineup on Aug. 26, he played through Sept. 7, when he left for a pinch runner after singling against Boston. While scans of the left ankle were negative, the Yankees said four days later his season was over. Jeter wound up hitting .190 (12 for 63) with one homer and seven RBIs, playing 13 games at shortstop and four at designated hitter. Jeter normally begins baseball activities in mid-Janaury in preparation for spring training. Yankees pitchers, catcher and injured players start workouts Feb. 15, with the rest of the team beginning five days later. ' ' '