Once again the Boston Red Sox got into an early deficit, and this time couldn’t recover as the Philadelphia Phillies got a strong seven inning performance from Aaron Nola to hold on for a 3-2 win in game one of a two game Interleague series at Fenway Park Tuesday night. The loss snaps the five game winning streak for Boston.
With David Price and now Chris Sale also on the injured list, Brian Johnson would make another spot start for Boston. It was a tough beginning in the top of the first as Philadelphia broke ahead early. A leadoff walk and then a one out double by Bryce Harper put two runners on quickly. That would lead to a two run double off the left center field wall by Jean Segura to make it 2-0. Scott Kingery then drove in Segura with a two out RBI single to left. But the Phillies were held scoreless from that point on. The Sox got on the board in the third against one of the stronger pitchers in the National League in the right hander Nola. Mitch Moreland led off with a single, and then with one out Jackie Bradley Jr. found the seats just above the Boston bullpen in right field for a two run homer to cut it to 3-2.
Johnson settled in and didn’t allow the Phillies anything else as he worked into the fourth inning. Boston (67-60) had a great chance in the sixth inning to tie the score. Mookie Betts led off with a single, and then stole second base with Rafael Devers batting. But Nola struck out Devers, got Xander Bogaerts to pop out, and JD Martinez on a ground out to end the threat. In the bottom of the ninth Bogaerts led off with a double against Phillies closer Hector Neris, but a baserunning blunder got him thrown out at third base when Martinez grounded one to Segura at shortstop who made the easy flip to the third baseman to tag out Bogaerts. Chris Owings came on to pinch run for Martinez at first, but then the game ended when Andrew Benintendi lined one hard to second base that was caught, and Owings was doubled up at first as the Phillies held on.
Johnson (1-2) took the loss for the Red Sox allowing three runs on six hits, with two walks and four strikeouts in 3.2 innings. The bullpen was fantastic in this one as they held Philadelphia off the board the rest of the way and combined for 5.1 innings only allowing one hit with seven strikeouts. Marcus Walden, Josh Taylor, Ryan Brasier, Darwinzon Hernandez, and Matt Barnes were the arms out of that pen that helped keep Boston in the game. Bradley Jr. was the only starter to have multiple hits in the loss with two. Scott Kingery and Cesar Hernandez each had two hits for Philadelphia. Nola (12-3) went 7.0 innings allowing two runs on four hits, with one walk and seven strikeouts. Neris picked up his 22nd save by pitching the ninth. The Phillies who entered the night just two games out of the National League wildcard improve to 65-60.
Rick Porcello will take the ball for the Sox in the second game of the short series Wednesday night at 7:10 p.m. Lefthander Drew Smyly will toe the rubber for the Phillies.
Boston pitcher Brian Johnson gets set to throw a first inning pitch while keeping an eye on a Philadelphia baserunner at Fenway Park on Tuesday night. The Phillies held off the Red Sox 3-2. Photo courtesy of Jeff Hoak (click to enlarge)
