All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' win over the Phillies, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Bullpen saves the day: Starter Nathan Eovaldi seemed to hit a wall with one out in the sixth inning, meaning the Sox were going to have to get the final 11 outs from their bullpen. They did, too, though not without some anxious moments. Phillips Valdez faltered before the Darwinzon Hernandez recorded two huge strikeouts -- albeit sandwiched around a hit batsman that forced in a run. From there, the Sox were on lockdown. Adam Ottavino had what was probably his best inning since joining the Sox, fanning the side in the eighth on just 15 pitches. And in the ninth, despite a leadoff single and a one-out walk that made things a little jittery, Matt Barnes ultimately nailed his 11th save in 12 chances. Over the final 3.2 innings, Red Sox relievers combined to record nine Phillies.
Homers in bunches: In the span of three pitches in the sixth inning, the Red Sox produced half of their four runs. First, Xander Bogaerts swatted a pitch the other way and drove it just beyond the right field fence for his 10rh homer of the season. All 10 of those have come in the last 30 games after he failed to hit any in his first 15 games. Bogaerts is now on pace to eclipse his season high of 33, set in 2019. That was followed two pitches later with a homer from Danny Santana, who contributed his second in as many games. Santana's swing looked like some sort of trick shot golf swing. Sam Coonrod threw him a pitch that was way down and in, and somehow Santana was able to not only A) make contact but also B) hit it out and C) hit it out to left-center. The whole sequence seemed to defy logic and physics. But there's no denying Santana has made an immediate impact (he also stole a base in the second inning) and could be a fine, versatile addition to the roster.
TURNING POINT
Darwinzon Hernandez entered the game in the seventh with the bases loaded and the Sox leading by a run. He struck out the dangerous Bryce Harper on three pitches, before hitting Rhys Hoskins to force in a run. Hernandez can let his emotions run high at times and he was insistent that Hoskins did one (or more) of the following: fail to get out of the way, swung and missed, or fouled the ball off. Hoskins did neither, actually, and Hernandez, with the tying run on third, struck out Brad Miller to leave the bases loaded and the lead preserved.
ONE UP:
Nathan Eovaldi. Eovaldi saw his homerless streak come to an end at 68 innings when Hoskins took him deep in the sixth, but Eovaldi gave the Sox 5.1 strong innings, allowing just ruins and picked up the victory.
ONE DOWN
Phillips Valdez: Valdez has been very effective out of the bullpen of late, but entrusted with a high-leverage assignment, he faced four batters -- hitting one, walking one and giving up a base hit.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"It was a big moment, a big spot. There were a lot of emotions flowing through, so when I was able to get that out, it was an exciting moment." Darwinzon Hernandez, who roared after getting out a bases-loaded jam.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* Xander Bogaerts, J.D. Martinez and Rafael Devers became the first trio of Red Sox hitters to ever collect 10 homers and 10 doubles each in the first 50 games of a season.
* Danny Santana became the fifth Red Sox player to hit two homers in his first two games with the club.
* The Red Sox assured themselves of another road series win. They're 6-1 in seven series this year.
* Nathan Eovaldi became the first Red Sox pitcher to score a run since Eduardo Rodriguez scored one in San Diego on Aug. 23, 2019.
UP NEXT
The Sox and Phillies close out their series at 1:05 with LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (5-2, 4.70) vs. RHP Zack Wheeler (3-2, 2.52)