Kyle Schwarber homers for fifth straight game as Phillies beat Red Sox 2-1

Remember when Craig Breslow said the Red Sox would look for opportunities to add more power to the lineup?

On Tuesday night, during Boston’s 2-1 series-opening loss to the Phillies, Breslow watched former Red Sox slugger Kyle Schwarber launch his 17th home run of the season, and his fifth in as many games, in the top of the first inning.

Schwarber was available in free agency this past winter, but Boston never seriously pursued a reunion with the left-handed slugger. Instead, the Red Sox pivoted toward pitching, signing left-hander Ranger Suárez, who is expected to start later in the series.

Meanwhile, Boston’s desperate need for offense continued to show itself Tuesday night.

Phillies ace Zack Wheeler completely controlled the Red Sox lineup, tossing 7 1/3 innings while allowing just one run on six hits. He hit one batter, walked nobody, and struck out four.

Wheeler was so efficient early that he needed just 16 pitches to navigate the first three innings, the fewest pitches thrown by any major league starter through three innings since at least 2000.

The Red Sox had opportunities to disrupt Wheeler’s rhythm but erased them almost immediately.

Masataka Yoshida reached after being hit by the first pitch of the second inning, while Marcelo Mayer led off the third with a single. Both baserunners were quickly wiped away on double plays off the bats of Trevor Story and Caleb Durbin.

“Zack Wheeler, he was cruising,” Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said after the game. “The sixth inning on, the at-bats got pretty good. So we got into a spot basically, couple spots where it’s like, we need a two-out hit. A two-out hit changes the game. ...We just couldn’t get it.”

The Red Sox finally showed some patience at the plate in the fourth inning, forcing Wheeler to work deeper counts and driving up his pitch count after the Phillies ace cruised through the opening three frames.

“The guys were aware,” Tracy said. “At that point there they kind of realized like, ‘We at least got to try to drag it out a little bit,’ and that’s when the at-bats started to improve. So they knew.”

The Red Sox did not put multiple runners on base until the seventh inning.

Mickey Gasper led off the frame with a single before Wilyer Abreu crushed a ball to the warning track in front of the visitors’ bullpen, a drive that reportedly would have been a home run in 29 other MLB ballparks.

Story followed with a two-out single to put two men on for Ceddanne Rafaela, who blooped an RBI single into shallow right field to end Wheeler’s shutout bid and trim Philadelphia’s lead to 2-1.

Story also worked a walk in the ninth inning. Despite his season-long offensive struggles, the veteran shortstop has quietly hit safely in 11 of his last 14 games, though he is still batting just .203 on the season.

“I don’t think it was afraid of falling behind,” Tracy said. “The thought (was) if he’s throwing fastballs early in the count, let’s try to get on some.”

Wheeler’s dominance on the mound ultimately became the biggest story of the night.

The Phillies ace carved through Boston’s lineup for most of the evening, continuing a season in which he has looked every bit like one of baseball’s premier starters.

Brayan Bello turned in another strong performance in his second straight outing working behind an opener. The right-hander held Philadelphia to just one earned run on four hits while walking one and striking out five across 6 1/3 innings, spanning from the second inning into the eighth.

“It was awesome,” Tracy said of Bello’s outing. “Not the exact result you wanted (with the early runs), but he was outstanding.”

Left-hander Jovani Morán opened for Bello for the second straight turn through the rotation, but once again struggled to deliver a clean first inning.

When Bello entered in the second inning, the Phillies immediately applied pressure.

Brandon Marsh singled on the first pitch Bello threw, and later came around to score on Bryson Stott’s one-out ground-rule double into right field, extending Philadelphia’s lead to 2-0.

“I think I was very focused, and I had the conviction to throw every single pitch,” Bello said via translator. “I think after that first inning, the second inning that I came in, I was more with rhythm, more with focus, and I was able to attack every batter.”

Tracy said he’s unsure if Bello will continue to come in out of the bullpen behind the opener. 

“But it’s obviously no secret how well he’s done so far (with an opener),” Tracy said.

Bello now owns a 1.35 ERA over 13 1/3 innings in two relief appearances this season, a dramatic contrast from the 9.12 ERA he posted across 25 2/3 innings in six starts.

The right-hander has now delivered back-to-back relief outings of at least six innings while allowing one earned run or fewer, giving the Red Sox a much-needed stabilizing presence behind the opener strategy.

Boston’s bullpen also continued to get strong work from rookie left-hander Tyler Samaniego. The southpaw recorded two outs in the eighth inning, extending his scoreless streak to 13 straight appearances to begin his major league career. He has yet to allow a run in a Red Sox uniform.

The streak moved Samaniego into sole possession of second place in franchise history for consecutive scoreless appearances to begin a Red Sox career. He passed Austin Maddox, who opened with 12 scoreless outings in 2017, and now trails only Robby Scott, who reached 14 straight between 2016 and 2017.

In the ninth inning, Boston attempted to rally against hard-throwing closer Jhoan Duran.

Yoshida lined a one-out single through the left side of the infield, and replay review later overturned an apparent caught stealing, ruling pinch-runner Isiah Kiner-Falefa safe at second base.

Duran then walked Story to bring the tying run aboard, but the Phillies' closer slammed the door by striking out Rafaela before inducing a game-ending groundout from Mayer.

Boston finished the night 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position and stranded six runners on base.

The loss dropped the Red Sox to 17-24 on the season, including just 3-17 in games when their opponent scores first.

The series continues Wednesday night at Fenway Park with veteran right-hander Sonny Gray (3-1, 3.54 ERA) set to face Phillies rookie Andrew Painter (1-4, 6.89 ERA).