The game: No. 5 starter candidate Jeff Karstens walked three, gave up three hits, allowed four earned runs and elevated his pitches a tad more than manager John Russell prefers -- even though the damage mostly came from one bad inning -- as the Pirates fell to Boston, 11-4, before 8,090 at City of Palms Park. Boston's 11 hits and nine walks from Pirates pitchers did in the visitors. Boston's Chip Ambres added a two-run homer against Sean Burnett.

Injury report: Brandon Moss (wrist) batted in his first Grapefruit League game since being hit by a Minnesota pitch March 7, going 1 for 4 with an RBI single in the seventh and a walk. He is slated to start in the outfield today. "Even the doctors are telling me the way it hit, it could have been a lot worse," Moss said. "The Twins' doctor [at the game] told me it'd be a couple of months." Eric Hinske (rib cage), in his second game since Feb. 26, got his first Pirates hit and run yesterday, in the sixth against Boston's Jonathan Papelbon. Andy Phillips (back) is scheduled for batting practice before today's game, his first such activity since last playing March 7.

Today: Paul Maholm is scheduled to start against Cincinnati's Homer Bailey at 1:05 p.m. in Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fla. Matt Capps, Craig Hansen and Jesse Chavez also are slated to pitch, with Jason Davis a possibility as well. The game will be televised by FSN Pittsburgh.

Camp roster: 40, with 18 pitchers, 4 catchers, 10 infielders and 8 outfielders.

Competition: With the final rotation spot seemingly down to Karstens and Virgil Vasquez, with Davis still a dark horse candidate, these starts become increasingly vital. "Control is obviously a big part in who's going to get that fifth spot," Karstens said. After yielding a Jacob Ellsbury double that helped Boston scratch out a 1-0 lead in the first inning, Karstens opened the second with walks to J.D. Drew and ex-Pirate Jason Bay, and Jason Varitek followed with a three-run homer on a 2-0 pitch. "He elevated [pitches] a little too much, and it hurt him," Russell said. "A little mechanical thing that he and Joe [Kerrigan, the pitching coach,] have been working on."

Inside pitch: It affected him not a whit, Karstens said, but this was the first time he pitched against the same Boston team that broke his leg in April 28, 2007, with a line drive off his right fibula, sending him to the New York Yankees' 60-day disabled list. Maybe it's karma, but the guy who hit that ball is recovering from surgery this week, shortstop Julio Lugo.

Fun under the sun: Maybe the Pirates player who enjoyed yesterday the most was backup catcher candidate Robinzon Diaz, who went 3 for 3 with a two-run double, scored a run and hiked his spring batting average to .500 (11 for 22).

Meet me in St. Louis: 18 days until the opener.