The Sox wasted no time scoring against Phillies starter Jason Vargas when last night's hero Andrew Benintendi led off with a base hit to center. Xander Bogaerts hit a routine grounder back to the mound but Vargas threw the ball away, advancing both runners. Rafael Devers was hit with a pitch to load the bases and JD Martinez scored Benintendi with a sac fly. Mitch Moreland struck out swinging and Christian Vazquez flied out to right to end the inning but the Sox were up 1-0.
Porcello got the ball in the bottom of the first and immediately allowed a leadoff single to Cesar Hernandez. Porcello turned back the clock to 2016 to get JT Realmuto to bang into a double play before freezing Harper for strike three to end the inning.
Vargas turned up the heat in the top of the second as Sam Travis whiffed to start. Chris Owings took strike three and Porcello fanned to end the inning. The Phillies fought back in the bottom of the second when Hoskins pounded a 40,000 foot home run to tie the game. Brad Miller grounded back to the mound, Jean Segura lined out to short and Scott Kingery fanned to end the inning with the Phillies tying the game 1-1.
The Sox instantly took the lead in the top of the third as Benintendi was plunked to start. Bogaerts singled to left but Devers took strike three. Martinez walked but Moreland whiffed. Vazquez then crushed a grand slam to left to ice the game early. Travis flied out to right to end the inning but it was 5-1 Sox.
Porcello cruised in the bottom of the third as Haseley took strike three to start. Morrison popped up to third and Hernandez took strike three to end the inning.
Nick Vincent came in to pitch the top of the fourth as Owings was rung up for strike three to start. Porcello flied out to right but Benintendi struck out swinging to end the inning. Things got testy in the bottom of the fourth as Realmuto singled to start. Harper was rung up for strike three and he threw his bat down and screamed at the umpire, earning an ejection. Gabe Kapler stormed out of the dugout with a sickle and chased the umpires away, earning an ejection himself. When things calmed down, Hoskins and Miller both lined out to left to end the inning.
Jose Pirela came in for the top of the fifth for Harper as Bogaerts flied out to center to start. Devers popped up to short and Martinez whiffed to end the inning. Segura grounded out to short to start the bottom of the fifth but Kingery walked. Haseley struck out and Phil Gosselin pinch hit for Vincent, getting a base hit to right. Hernandez singled to right to score Kingery but Realmuto grounded out to third to end the inning. Porcello was done after 5 innings and allowing 2 runs, better than his usual as the Sox led 5-2.
The Sox struck again in the top of the sixth against Mike Morin. Moreland lined to to center but Vazquez belted yet another home run to increase the lead. Travis lined out to left and Owings grounded out to short to end the inning but the Sox were up 6-2.
Marcus Walden came in for the bottom of the sixth and Pirela popped up to short to start. Hoskins walked and moved to second on the Miller grounder. Segura singled home Hoskins to cut the lead in half. Kingery whiffed to end the inning with the Phillies down 6-3.
Maikel Franco came in to play third with Kingery moving to center, Haseley moving to left and Cole Irvin coming in to pitch the top of the seventh. Gorkys Hernandez pinch hit for Walden and lined back to the mound to start. Benintendi grounded out to second and Bogaerts grounded out to the mound to end the inning. Andrew Cashner came in for the bottom of the seventh and walked Haseley to begin. Franco flied out to left but Hernandez whiffed. Realmuto flied out to right to end the inning.
Devers grounded out to second to start the top of the eighth but Martinez walked. Moreland singled to center but Vazquez lined out to left. Travis grounded out to second to end the inning. Jackie Bradley Jr took Travis spot in center with Matt Barnes now on the mound for the bottom of the eighth. Pirela whiffed but Hoskins singled. Jay Bruce pinch hit for Irvin and banged into a double play to end the inning.
Jared Hughes had the top of the ninth and Owings grounded out to short to start. Marco Hernandez pinch hit for Barnes and took strike three before Benintendi singled to right. Bogaerts grounded into a force to end the inning. Brandon Workman came in for the save in the bottom of the ninth and got Segura to line out to center to begin. Kingery grounded out to short but Haseley walked. Workman blew away Franco to end the game. The Sox had won two in a row with a 6-3 win.
Hero of the Night is Christian Vazquez. He swatted two home runs including a grand slam while driving in 5 runs.
The Good:
Andrew Benintendi was 2 for 4 with a hit by pitch and 2 runs scored.
JD Martinez was 1 for 1 with 2 walks and an rbi.
Rick Porcello got the win with 5 innings of 2 run ball. He was 0 for 2 at the plate.
Andrew Cashner pitched a scoreless 7th inning.
Matt Barnes pitched a scoreless 8th inning.
Brandon Workman earned his 14th save with a scoreless 9th inning.
The Bad:
Sam Travis was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Chris Owings was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Gorkys Hernandez was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.
Marco Hernandez was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.
Marcus Walden allowed a run in an inning of work.
The Ugly:
Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 5 but scored a run.
Rafael Devers was 0 for 3 but was hit with a pitch.
Mitch Moreland was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Honorable Mention:
Jackie Bradley Jr played center in the bottom of the ninth.
Final Thoughts:
Its all about individual accomplishments now with just 13 games left. Brandon Workman's march toward 20 saves, Vazquez trying to hit 25 home runs, Eduardo Rodriguez gunning for 20 wins, etc. With any form of competitive baseball out the window, these are the only things to look forward to at this point. Once again the wins are meaningless but at least they won the game. Porcello is most certainly not coming back so this could possibly be his final win with the Red Sox after 5 seasons. Better to end with a win than a loss. The win improved the Sox to 79-70, too many games out of the Wild Card slot. Tomorrow is another off-day and the Sox are back in action Tuesday night at home against the San Fransisco Giants. Logan Webb goes for the Giants up against Nathan Eovaldi at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park
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