As for the game, welcome to Boston Danny Santana. On a night where the Boston Bruins defeated the Washington Capitals in Game 4 of their first round playoff series, the Red Sox whacked the Philadelphia Phillies real good. The Sox got to Phillies ace Aaron Nola for 5 runs in 5 innings including a go-ahead home run by Santana in his Sox debut. The Boston offense scored 6 runs against the Philly bullpen amidst some horrific defense by the Phillies. Meanwhile Martin Perez (2-2, 3.55 ERA) won his second game in a row as he tossed 6 solid innings of 3 run ball. The Boston bullpen didn't allow a run in the final 3 innings and the Sox smacked around the Phillies 11-3 at Citizens Bank Park.
The Sox tagged Nola instantly in the top of the first inning as Danny Santana made his Red Sox debut by grounding out to second to start. Alex Verdugo singled to center, JD Martinez singled Verdugo to third and Alex scored on the grounder to first by Xander Bogaerts to give the Sox the lead. Rafael Devers doubled home Martinez to add to the lead but Christian Vazquez struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0.
Perez got the ball in the bottom of the first and Andrew McCutchen took strike three to start. Jean Segura grounded out to first and Bryce Harper struck out swinging to end the inning.
Nola dominated the top of the second as Hunter Renfroe took strike three to start. Marwin Gonzalez struck out swinging and Perez himself whiffed to end the inning. Rhys Hoskins grounded out to second to start the bottom of the second but Alec Bohm singled to left. Odubel Herrera grounded out to short to move Bohm to second but Andrew Knapp flied out to right to end the inning.
Santana flied out to right to start the top of the third but Verdugo singled to center. Martinez flied out to center and Bogaerts struck out swinging to end the inning. The Phillies struck back in the bottom of the third as Ronald Torreyes struck out swinging to start. Nola himself took strike three but McCutchen doubled to right. Segura then hit a home run all the way to Lagos, Nigeria to tie the game. Harper struck out swinging to end the inning but it was tied 2-2.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the fourth as Devers struck out swinging to start. Vazquez flied out to center and Renfroe flied out to right to end the inning. Hoskins walked to start the bottom of the fourth but was doubled off first on a line drive to Santana by Bohm for the double play. Herrera was hit with a pitch but Knapp flied out to left to end the inning.
The Sox broke the tie in the top of the fifth although Gonzalez struck out swinging to start. Perez took strike three but Santana launched his first home run of the season into the right field corner to give the Sox the lead. Verdugo singled to center, Martinez walked and Bogaerts ripped a base hit to left. Verdugo scored easily but Martinez was caught in a rundown when the throw came to third. Bohm then threw the ball away from Segura and Martinez came around to score on the error. Devers struck out swinging to end the inning but the Sox now led 5-2.
Torreyes grounded out to short to start the bottom of the fifth and Matt Joyce pinch hit for Nola. Joyce took strike three and McCutchen lined out to right to end the inning.
Connor Brogdon came in to pitch the top of the sixth and the Sox took advantage of more bad defense. Vazquez doubled to center and Renfroe lined a base hit to left...that McCutchen bobbled for an error to score Vazquez. Gonzalez popped up to short, Perez took strike three and Santana struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox ahead 6-2.
All of a sudden Verdugo went to run up the dugout steps when he clutched his hamstring and keeled over. Verdugo had to be hauled off on a gurney, loaded in to an ambulance and rushed to the local ICU with Kike Hernandez taking over for him. The Phillies tagged Perez in the bottom of the sixth as Segura caught the Sox asleep with a bunt single to begin. Segura moved to second on the Harper grounder back to the mound but Hoskins took strike three. A passed ball moved Segura to third and he scored on the Bohm base hit to left. Herrera grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 6-3. For whatever reason Sox manager Alex Cora felt 79 pitches was enough for Perez as he gave up 3 runs in 6 innings of work.
The Sox struck again in the top of the seventh as Hernandez hit a ground ball to Bohm who threw high to first, Kike was ruled safe on the play. The Phillies challenged the call but the call was upheld. Hernandez then stole second but Martinez struck out swinging. Bogaerts flied out to left but Devers smashed his 12th home run of the season to ice the game. Vince Velazquez came in to pitch but took Herrera's spot in the lineup, Nick Maton came in to play short and Torreyes replaced Herrera in center. Vazquez flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 8-3.
Garrett "The Lock" Whitlock came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Knapp grounded out to third to start. Torreyes grounded out to short but Maton walked. McCutchen grounded into a force to end the inning.
Velazquez turned up the head in the top of the eighth as Renfroe struck out swinging to start. Gonzalez struck out swinging and Sox manager Alex Cora let Whitlock hit away. Whitlock struck out swinging on three pitches to end the inning. Segura singled to right to start the bottom of the eighth but Harper went down hacking. Hoskins walked but Bohm went down swinging on a full count. Cora didn't want to extend Whitlock after coming off TJ so he pulled Garrett for Josh Taylor after 35 pitches. Brad Miller pinch hit for Velazquez and struck out swinging to end the inning.
The Sox poured it on against Chase Anderson in the top of the ninth as Santana struck out swinging to begin. Hernandez popped up to first but Martinez singled to left. Bogaerts doubled to right and Devers was intentionally walked to load the bases. Vazquez made the Phillies pay by ripping a bases clearing double to right. Renfroe whiffed to end the inning with the Sox ahead 11-3.
Michael Chavis came in for Bogaerts but went to second base with Gonzalez moving to short and Darwinzon Hernandez on the mound for the bottom of the ninth. Knapp took strike three but Torreyes walked. Maton struck out swinging but Torreyes took second on defensive indifference. McCutchen struck out swinging to end the game. The Sox had won it 11-3.
Hero of the Night is Danny Santana. His first home run in his first game put the Sox up for good in the fifth.
The Good:
Alex Verdugo was 3 for 3 with 2 runs scored.
JD Martinez was 2 for 4 with a walk and 3 runs scored.
Xander Bogaerts was 2 for 5 with 2 rbis and a run scored.
Rafael Devers was 2 for 4 with a walk, a 2 run homer, 3 total rbis and 2 runs scored.
Christian Vazquez was 2 for 5 with 3 rbis and a run scored.
Martin Perez got the win by pitching 6 innings while allowing just 3 runs. He allowed 5 hits and one walk while striking out 8.
Garrett Whitlock tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
Josh Taylor struck out the only man he faced.
Darwinzon Hernandez pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Marwin Gonzalez was 0 for 4 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts.
The Ugly:
Kike Hernandez was 0 for 2 but stole a base and scored a run.
Hunter Renfroe was just 1 for 5 with 3 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts but scored a run.
Honorable Mention:
Michael Chavis played second base in the bottom of the ninth.
Final Thoughts:
This was a big win considering the Tampa Bay Rays have won 8 games in a row and the New York Yankees have won 4 in a row. Both of them are red hot right now so its imperative the Sox smack around the Phillies to keep pace with them. Santana brought exactly what he was reputed to bring, a home run bat and his home run put the Sox in the lead. The offense ripped apart the Phillies bullpen which is a welcome sight, turning a 3-2 game into 6-2 and 6-3 into 11-3. It took the pressure off the bullpen and they responded by not allowing a run. Once again Cora took out Perez after only 79 pitches and at what point does Perez himself storm into the manager's office and complain about it? Had he gone one more inning that would have saved wear and tear on the other pitchers. Still, if the only thing to squawk about is taking the starter out early, you know you had a good night. Moving forward, Christian Arroyo started his rehab down in Worcester so he'll be back soon. The question is who goes when he comes back? It could be Chavis, it could be Gonzalez, it could be Franchy Cordero or (hopefully not) Verdugo's hamstring is worse than we think. Either way the Sox need to keep the momentum going the way the Rays and Yankees are playing. The win improved the Sox to 28-18, 1 game in front of the Rays for first place in the AL East. The Sox look to make it four wins in a row tomorrow evening when Nathan Eovaldi (4-2, 4.50 ERA) takes on Spencer Howard of the Phillies. The game begins at 7:15 PM at Citizens Bank Park.
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