The rain and wind wouldn't stop this afternoon's ballgame in Clearwater against Shane Victorino and the Red Sox. Cliff Lee took the hill today in what was his second to last start of spring training.
After a scoreless first, Cliff allowed a few runs to score in the top of the second. Will Middlebrooks and Johnny Gomes scored on a three-run homer off the bat of Jackie Bradley. 3-0 Sox.
Three more runs scored in the top of the third. Victorino and Middlebrooks both scored on a fielding error by Jimmy Rollins, and to follow, Mike Napoli was able to score on a sac fly from Bradley out to center field.
The Phillies got a few runs back in the bottom of the third. Ben Revere singled to center to score Humberto Quintero. Later in the inning, Revere scored on a single from Chase Utley. 6-2 Sox.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Chase Utley made it a 6-3 game after bringing home Revere with a single, once again.
After 5.1 innings, Cliff Lee's afternoon was complete. He allowed six runs (four were earned) to score on nine hits, walking none and striking out seven. Jonathan Papelbon finished the inning for Cliff and allowed one hit. Michael Stutes came in for the seventh inning, walking one and allowing one hit.
For the second straight day, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard hit back-to-back home runs. In the bottom of the eighth, Utley made it a 6-5 game with a two-run homer to left, followed by a solo jack from Howard, tying the game at 6.
In the top of the ninth with Jeremy Horst in, Shannon Wilkerson drove home Xander Bogaerts with a single to third giving Boston a 7-6 lead.
The Phils couldn't come back in the bottom of the inning, dropping this game, 7-6.
The Phillies will head to Dunedin tomorrow afternoon at 1:05 to take on the Toronto Blue Jays.
