
(Kyle Ross-Imagn Images)
Final: Red Sox 9, Phillies 7 (F/11th) - Narvaez hits 11th inning home run to win game for Red Sox
The Red Sox finish off their series in Philadelphia with a chaotic 11-inning victory.
Considering how the start of this game went, the likelihood of the Red Sox coming away with the win seemed impossible.
In the first inning, the Phillies took an early lead against Lucas Giolito. Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper hit back-to-back home runs putting three runs on the board.
Giolito struggled with his command in this start, and the Phillies were destroyed pitches against the righty during his outing. In the third and fourth innings, Nick Castellanos and Bryson Stott both recorded solo home runs adding two more runs to Philadelphia's lead.
On the hitting side for the Red Sox, things weren't looking good. Through the first four innings of the game, Boston didn't record a hit against Phillies starter Jesus Luzardo.
However, things finally turned around in the fifth inning. Luzardo severely struggled with his location which helped turn the tide for Boston. After giving up a leadoff double to Masataka Yoshida, Luzardo walked four batters which resulted in Boston's first two runs of the game.
And with the bases loaded, Romy Gonzalez delivered a grand slam giving the Red Sox the lead. Up to this point, the Red Sox only had two hits in the game, but those hits were massive.
ROMY WITH THE GO-AHEAD GRAND SLAM. pic.twitter.com/iRdTKSvilj
— Red Sox (@RedSox) July 24, 2025
Following Gonzalez's grand slam, Boston's bullpen had to pitch a near perfect game to come away with the victory. Justin Wilson pitched two clean innings in the fifth and sixth innings, and Jordan Hicks gave Boston two outs in the seventh.
For the first time this season, the Red Sox brought in Aroldis Chapman to finish off the seventh inning. Chapman made Schwarber pop out to end the inning, but his second inning on the mound didn't go as expected.
With two outs in the eighth inning, Chapman gave up a center field solo home run to J.T. Realmuto which eventually sent the game into extra innings. The Red Sox couldn't do anything against Philadelphia's top-of-the-line bullpen arms, and Garrett Whitlock pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth inning.
In the 10th inning, the Red Sox took the lead with an RBI double from Trevor Story. At this point, Boston had limited options to go with in their bullpen, but they elected to pitch Greg Weissert to get them the win.
JD, the ghost runner.
— Red Sox (@RedSox) July 24, 2025
Story at the plate...
That'll bring in the run! pic.twitter.com/qu4A5gO44h
Philly's top of the order was back up to bat, and Trea Turner got it started advancing the ghost runner to third base on a sac fly to right field. In a controversial decision, Alex Cora elected not to intentionally walk Schwarber to leave runners on the corners, and the former Red Sox outfielder drove in the tying run. Boston was able to get out the inning without facing anymore trouble.
In the 11th inning, the Red Sox took the lead again thanks to Carlos Narvaez's two run home run. After costing the Red Sox in the first game of the series, Narvaez came up clutch with this at-bat.
11th inning & A SWING FROM NARVI. pic.twitter.com/NKvmE8qoib
— Red Sox (@RedSox) July 24, 2025
Boston again had to go with an unlikely name to get them the win. Jorge Alacala came in and picked up the first two outs against the Phillies. Facing the pinch hitting Johan Rojas, he allowed an RBI single putting the game at 9-8. The Red Sox brought in Brennan Bernardino to face the lefty Max Kepler, and he recorded the final out in a wild victory for the Red Sox.
Battled all the way through. 😤 pic.twitter.com/1OxvvXiniZ
— Red Sox (@RedSox) July 24, 2025
This series against the Phillies went pretty similar to their previous series against the Chicago Cubs. The overall performance in these three games wasn't good, but a win to end off this series could stack up overtime. Boston went 2-4 against two teams at the top of their divisions in the National League. The record doesn't look as bad considering how lackluster their performance was.
Overall, Boston capitalized on Luzardo's mistakes and they pulled it together in the late innings of this game. The bullpen pitched well making up for a short outing from Giolito, and the Red Sox finally picked up a win on the road in extra innings.
The Red Sox have the off day tomorrow and they will start a weekend series against the Dodgers at Fenway Park on Friday.
_____________________
WHO: Red Sox (54-49) vs Phillies (58-43)
WHEN: 7:05 p.m.
WHERE: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia
SERIES TO DATE: (0-2), (0-2)
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Lucas Giolito (6-2, 3.59 ERA) vs. LHP Jesus Luzardo (8-5, 4.29 ERA)
TV/RADIO: NESN, MLB Network, WEEI-FM 93.7
LINEUPS
RED SOX
Rob Refsnyder (R) LF
Jarren Duran (L) CF
Romy Gonzalez (R) 1B
Trevor Story (R) SS
Masataka Yoshida (L) DH
Ceddanne Rafaela (R) 2B
Wilyer Abreu (L) RF
Carlos Narváez (R) C
Marcelo Mayer (L) 3B
SP Lucas Giolito
PHILLIES
Trea Turner (R) SS
Kyle Schwarber (L) DH
Bryce Harper (L) 1B
Nick Castellanos (R) RF
J.T. Realmuto (R) C
Brandon Marsh (L) CF
Max Kepler (L) LF
Edmundo Sosa (R) 3B
Bryson Stott (L) 2B
SP Jesus Luzardo
WHAT'S UP
The Red Sox finish their series in Philadelphia looking to avoid being swept by the Phillies.
Alex Bregman and Roman Anthony are out of the lineup for the series finale at Citizens Bank Park. Bregman is still adjusting back from his quad injury while Anthony sits after striking out four times in consecutive games.
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