By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor
Final: Red Sox 2, Phillies 1 ❖ Attendance: 33,081
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — On their recent trip out west, the Philadelphia Phillies lost four of six games while scoring just 15 runs. The offense is sputtering mightily lately, and that trend continued against baseball's best team.
Rick Porcello and the Boston Red Sox held the Phillies to just two hits, as Brock Holt's pinch-hit home run in the eighth proved to be the difference in a 2-1 loss at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday night.
WP: Rick Porcello (15-5, 4.04 ERA) ❖ LP: Tommy Hunter (3-2, 4.00 ERA) ❖ SV: Craig Kimbrel (36)
Hub: Game Summary ❖ Starting Pitchers ❖ At the Plate ❖ Bullpen ❖ What's Next
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
BOS | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 |
PHI | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Just like the first two games between the two teams in Boston, this was a pitcher's duel.
The Red Sox struck first as Sandy Leon connected on a solo home run in the third, his fifth of the season. The Red Sox got two runners on base with one out in the third following the home run, but Andrew Benintendi grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Porcello was perfect through four innings against the Phillies, but allowed his first hit and run in the fifth. Rhys Hoskins led off the inning with a solo shot to left, his 23rd of the season, to tie the game at one.
The 1-1 score held into the eighth inning. The Phillies turned to Tommy Hunter on the mound in the tie game as the Red Sox pulled Porcello after seven innings allowing one run. Off the bench came Brock Holt, who swung at the first pitch and belted it to right for a solo home run, his third of the season, to give the Red Sox the lead.
The Phillies managed just three baserunners in the game, two coming in the fifth inning on Hoskins' homer and a base hit for Odubel Herrera. Justin Bour led off the ninth inning with a hard-earned walk to put the tying run on base. Scott Kingery came on to pinch run and eventually stole second base, but Asdrubal Cabrera struck out for the third time on the night to end the game.
IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nick Pivetta | 6.0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 4.37 |
Rick Porcello | 7.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 4.04 |
Phillies
- Rhys Hoskins: 1-3, R, HR, RBI, .253 AVG
- Odubel Herrera: 1-3, K, .270 AVG
- Asdrubal Cabrera: 0-4, 3 K, .270 AVG
Red Sox
- Brock Holt: 1-1, R, HR, RBI, .263 AVG
- Sandy Leon: 1-3, R, HR, RBI, K, .211 AVG
- J.D. Martinez: 1-4, 2 K, .333 AVG
Phillies
- Pat Neshek (7th): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR, 0.69 ERA
- Tommy Hunter (8th): 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 1 HR, 4.00 ERA
- Victor Arano (9th): 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR, 1.97 ERA
Red Sox
- Heath Hembree (8th): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR, 3.86 ERA
- Craig Kimbrel (9th): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR, 2.52 ERA
- Wednesday, August 15, 2018: vs. Boston Red Sox, 7:05 p.m.
- Philadelphia – Citizens Bank Park
- RHP Nathan Eovaldi (5-4, 3.74 ERA) vs. RHP Vince Velasquez (8-9, 3.98 ERA)
- TV: NBCSP, ESPN (out-of-market only); Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP