PHILADELPHIA — All you need to know about the Red Sox’s 7-4 loss to the Phillies on Wednesday night, in quickie form, complete with BSJ analysis and insight.
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Trouble cashing in: The Sox had plenty of chances to score runs and win this game, but failed to convert opportunities against a Phillies team that was forced to use seven relief pitchers. Boston left nine runners on base, including three in the top of the third after taking a 3-0 lead on a bases-clearing double by Mitch Moreland. Hector Neris came on in relief of starter Vince Velasquez and stemmed the tide, getting Jackie Bradley Jr. to fly out before fanning Rafael Devers.
Need some relief: The heat isn't the only thing on the rise this August; so is the pressure on the Boston relief corps. After Eovaldi was lifted after five innings, the Sox's bullpen allowed four runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three. It's hard to point to areas of concern on a team that is 50 games above .500, but this might be causing manager Alex Cora some indigestion. Cora said that they were trying to stay away from using Tyler Thornburg and Matt Barnes, which led to Joe Kelly (game-winning run allowed) and Drew Pomeranz (three ER, four hits) being used.
Red-hot Ramos: One of the big reasons the Red Sox lost this game was they simply couldn't get Phillies catcher Wilson Ramos out. He finished went 3-for-4 with three runs and three RBIs, and all of his hits went for extra bases.
TURNING POINT
It came in the top of the sixth, when the Phillies challenged a safe call at first base on what looked to be an RBI infield single by pinch hitter Steve Pearce, which would have given Boston a 4-3 lead. The throw from second baseman Caesar Hernandez appeared to pull first baseman Justin Bour off the bag, but replay showed Bour barely kept his foot on the bag for the final out of the inning.
SECOND-GUESS
If it was weird for Cora to use the struggling Joe Kelly in a tie game, it was definitely odd for him to use Drew Pomeranz trailing by a run in the seventh inning. After he allowed three runs on four hits, it was all but over. "We try to win every game, don’t get me wrong. Whenever we have a shot, we will," Cora said. "We’re not going to be chasing W’s either. We haven’t done that the whole season and we’re in a good spot because of that."
TWO UP
Nathan Eovaldi: His fastball was reaching into the upper 90s and he had pretty good command of his off-speed pitches. He showed the ability to work around some early baserunners and get through five innings. In an American League park, he likely would have gone into the sixth, and possibly the seventh inning.
Brock Holt: Had another two hits in this game following his big home run on Tuesday night, and made a pretty nifty play at second base off a hot smash up the middle that was deflected by Eovaldi. Despite all that, Cora pinch-hit Eduardo Nunez for him in the seventh and he promptly grounded into a double play.
TWO DOWN
Drew Pomeranz: Struggled in relief, allowing four hits and three earned runs despite facing just eight batters and working one inning. He left too many balls up in the zone, particularly to Ramos, who stroked a two-run double to right-center that put Philly up, 6-3, in the seventh inning.
Rafael Devers: Had an error in the field and went just 1-for-4 at the plate, and two of the three outs he made were a strikeout and a pop-up.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"Give them credit, they went to the bullpen right away and they maneuvered the game, used all the players, and ended up winning. They are a good team."
— Cora
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- Holt has hit safely in seven-straight games and is hitting .400 during that span.
- Mitch Moreland picked up his 16th multi-RBI game of the season, including his fourth this month.
- The Phillies used 12 players in the No. 9 spot in the order (eight pitchers, four pinch-hitters).