Liriano’s 1,000th K sets new Pirates staff record

Francisco Liriano was not able to celebrate a 17th win Friday night after the Pirates could not protect the three-run lead he walked out on after eight innings. But nobody could take away the left-hander’s 1,000th career strikeout — of Chris Heisey, in the eighth. The same strikeout was the Pirates’ 1,193rd of this season, breaking a 1-year-old club record.

Red Sox savor significance of playoff return

As a shirtless Mike Napoli walked through the Fenway infield, as a jubilant Koji Uehara sprayed champagne from the top of the dugout, as a satisfied Jonny Gomes walked around the celebratory scene with an army hat on, it wasn’t just about the moment for a team that had just clinched the American League East. Instead, it was about the restoration of the Boston Red Sox, a proud franchise that had fallen on some hard times the last couple of years.