In one of the more entertaining games of the season, the Red Sox enjoyed a thrilling walk-off win, edging out the Philadelphia Phillies, 2-1 in 13 innings, in a battle of first-place teams.
Blake Swihart, who had entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the 10th inning, drilled a double to right field, scoring Eduardo Nunez from base with the winning run.
Starters David Price and Aaron Nola had engaged in a fierce pitching duel through eight innings before both teams turned the game over to their bullpens.
The Sox won on a night when they got no offensive production from the top five spots in their lineup.
IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS
9:22 Alex Cora showed a lot of trust in David Price there, with two on and two out and Price over 90 pitches for the night. But that's rewarded when Price gets Asrubal Cabrera to line out to right, with a hard-charging Betts coming in to make the catch.
8:55 Few pitchers have made J.D. Martinez look as overmatched this season as Aaron Nola has tonight. Martinez has struck out twice and hit a weak comebacker in three trips to the plate.
8:31 Poor read in center field by Odubel Herrera, who sees a liner from Eduardo Nunez sail over his head and all the way to the wall, allowing the Sox to tie the game as Jackie Bradley scores from first. With Nunez at third and one out, however, the Sox can't get him in as Leon lines into a double play.
8:17 Aaron Nola has handcuffed the Red Sox to date, allowing just one infield hit -- to Sandy Leon, no less! -- through the first four innings. The Sox have hit a couple of balls hard, notably the line drive to right by Mookie Betts to lead off the first and a well-hit ball to left-center by Brock Holt with one out in the third. But little to show for it, yet.
7:55 Well, that was some particularly ugly baserunning on the part of the Phillies. Rhys Hoskins broke for the plate, got into a rundown. But first, the Red Sox tagged out Odubel Herrera trying to advance from first to third while Hoskins got hung up between home and third. Then, the Sox had Eduardo Nunez take a return throw and chase down Hoskyns for the second out on the play and third out of the inning.
WHO: Red Sox vs. Philadelphia Phillies
WHEN: 7:10 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park
WHAT'S UP: The Red Sox have won three in a row and own the best in MLB, having won 18 of their last 22. They're received excellent starting pitching in the last month, with a 1.44 ERA over his last 11 games. The Sox have also beaten up on NL teams in interleague play, going 18-2 in their last 20 games, including 12-1 in the last 13. The Phils are in first place in the N.L. East, leading second-place Atlanta by a game and a half.
STARTING PITCHERS: LHP David Price (11-6, 4.17) vs. RHP Aaron Nola (12-3, 2.42)
TV;RADIO: NESN/ESPN; WEEI 93.7 FM
LINEUPS:
RED SOX
Betts RF
Benintendi LF
Martinez DH
Moreland 1B
Bogaerts SS
Bradley CF
Nunez 3B
Holt 2B
Leon C
PHILLIES
Hernandez 2B
Hoskins LF
Herrera CF
Santana 1B
Cabrera DH
Franco 3B
Alfaro C
Quinn DH
Kingery SS
NEWS AND NOTES:
- LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (ankle) is making progress. He met with foot specialist Dr. George Theodore over the weekend and was cleared to ramp up some physical activity. He performed some exercises with the ankle for the training staff and was cleared to run on the treadmill. He hasn't been cleared to throw off the mound, though that's likely the next step. Rodriguez still must spend time in the walking boot for the ankle, but is allowed to be out of the boot while in the clubhouse and dugout.