Rick Porcello pitched another gem Tuesday night, and Brock Holt came off the bench and crushed a solo homer on the first pitch he saw in the top of the eighth, as the Boston Red Sox topped the Philadelphia Philles 2-1 in interleague play at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
Sandy Leon got the scoring started when he nailed his fifth homer of the year deep over the fence in right center in the top of the third to make it 1-0. Rhys Hoskins responded with a solo shot of his own, his 23rd, and one of only two hits off Porcello in the bottom of the fifth to tie it 1-1. After Leon struck out to begin the eighth, Holt came up to hit for Porcello. Holt hit a no doubter off Phillies reliever Tommy Hunter on the very first pitch he saw to right field off the second deck facade to provide the game winner. It was Holts third homerun of the year. Craig Kimbrel nailed down his 36th save, allowing a walk to start the ninth but then getting a fly out, a line out, and a strikeout to end it and send the Sox to their fifth straight win.
Six different Sox players had a hit each, including Mookie Betts, JD Martinez, Xander Bogaerts, and Porcello also added a double. Hoskins and Odubel Herrera had the only two Philadelphia hits. The Sox are now 86-35, while the Phillies are 65-53. Boston is now 20-3 against National League teams in their last 23 interleague games.
Porcello (15-5) went 7.0 innings, allowing just one run, two hits, with no walks, and a season high 10 strikeouts. Heath Hembree also worked a perfect eighth before turning it over to Kimbrel in the ninth. Nick Pivetta also pitched solid in a no decision for the hosts, allowing just one run, three hits, one walk, with six strikeouts in 6.0 innings. Hunter (3-2) took the loss allowing the Holt bomb in the eighth.
A pair of righties get the nod Wednesday night at 7:05, as Boston sends Nathan Eovaldi to the hill in the finale of the short two game series. Philadelphia counters with Vince Valasquez.
