The Philadelphia Phillies scored eight times in the eighth inning against the Boston bullpen Saturday evening, taking the second game of a three game series 11-2 at Fenway Park. The loss ends a nine game home win streak for the Red Sox.
Boston (55-35) never led in this one, as the visiting Phillies got a leadoff solo homerun in the top of the first inning from Jean Segura and a two-run shot in the second from Alec Bohm off Sox starter Martin Perez. The hosts got within a run when Xander Bogaerts lost one into the monster seats in left for a solo homer to leadoff the bottom of the second, and Christian Vazquez scored on a throwing error by Philadelphia catcher Andrew Knapp in the third to cut it to 3-2. The score stayed the same until the guests put the game away in that top of the eighth against Josh Taylor, Brandon Workman, and Austin Brice sending 13 men to the plate and scoring eight times. The 35 minute half of the inning was highlighted by a two-run double from Rhys Hoskins, a two-run single by Segura, and a two-run double by Bryce Harper. Boston tried to make things interesting in the bottom half loading the bases with no outs, but pinch hitter Michael Chavis struck out, as did Rafael Devers, and Hunter Renfoe flied out to extinguish that rally without any runs.
Perez (7-5) took the loss allowing three runs on six hits with two walks and four strikeouts in 3.2 innings. The combination of Taylor, Workman, and Brice allowed eight earned runs on five hits with four walks in the eighth inning implosion. Taylor had last gave up an earned run on April 30 (ending a 26.2 inning streak). Alex Verdugo had two of the four Boston hits on the day. Segura had three hits and three RBI to lead the way for Philadelphia (43-44). Ronald Torreyes also had three hits, while Harper, Bohm, and J.T. Realmuto all had two each. Matt Moore got a no-decision on the mound allowing two runs on three hits in 4.1 innings, and Bailey Falter (2-0) pitched 2.0 perfect innings to get the victory in relief. The Sox will look to finish the first half before the All-Star break on a high note with a win in the rubber game on Sunday afternoon at 1:10. They will send RHP Nick Pivetta (7-3, 4.09 ERA) to the bump against RHP Aaron Nola (6-5, 4.53) for the Phillies.
