Bryce Harper launched the go-ahead home run in tonight’s ballgame. (Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire)
Bryce Harper and the workhorses of the Philadelphia Phillies (66-60) bullpen led the team to a 5-2 victory against the Boston Red Sox (67-61). Tonight’s victory marks the first time the Phillies have won a series against the Red Sox at Fenway since 1999.
The Red Sox struck first this time around. With a 2-0 count, Mookie Betts swung at a middle-of the-plate fastball, driving it off the Monster for a lead-off double. Rafael Devers followed up with another double to score Betts and give the Sox a 1-0 lead:
Smyly and the Phillies are lucky that ball didn’t reach the seats on top of the Monster.
pic.twitter.com/xiBHmE0KJE— Phillies Nation (@PhilliesNation) August 21, 2019
They would have to settle for only one run as Drew Smyly would throw 22 more pitches and strikeout both Xander Bogaerts and Andrew Benintendi and get Sam Travis to flyout to Adam Haseley in center for the final out of the inning.
The Red Sox added on another in the top of the second with another home run from Jackie Bradley Jr. It was a solo shot that could have been a two-run homer if Realmuto had not easily thrown out Marco Hernandez at second base during the previous pitch:
For the second straight night, Jackie Bradley Jr. homers against the Phillies.
pic.twitter.com/QAiYrVXscG— Phillies Nation (@PhilliesNation) August 22, 2019
The Phillies finally got to work on offense in the fifth. Cesar Hernandez got it all started with a double down the right field line. He took third on a wild pitch and proceeded to home plate when the throw over got away from Devers. With Haseley on first and one man down, Harper would come to the plate and absolutely crush a hanging slider over the Wall for an opposite field two-run home run to give the Phillies a one run lead:
Harper, who is well within what will be the craziest and maybe the most fulfilling week or so of his life, just hit a home run into the seats on top of the Green Monster.
pic.twitter.com/lkOilQ6trO— Phillies Nation (@PhilliesNation) August 22, 2019
Another run came in during the top of the seventh for the Phillies. Hoskins began the inning working out another tough walk. He took second after a wild pitch from reliever Andrew Cashner. Both Harper and Realmuto were unable to bring Hoskins home, setting up Corey Dickerson with a man on second and two out. He came up huge, scorching a ball down the right field line for an RBI triple. Dickerson would come up big again in the ninth with an RBI single to give Neris a bigger cushion going into the ninth.
Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Matchup
Drew Smyly: 3.2 IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, 3BB, 4SO
Rick Porcello: 5.0 IP, 3H, 3R, 3ER, 4BB. 3SO
Both Smyly and Porcello didn’t have their best stuff in today’s game. It took Smyly 32 pitches to get through the bottom of the first, but fortunately, he was able to limit the Sox to just one run in that inning. While Smyly was nowhere near as good as his past numbers at Fenway suggest he could be, he was able to limit the damage in the innings he struggled in, which is all the Phillies could ask of him.
Phillies Nuggets Player(s) of the Game: The Bullpen
The Phillies bullpen turned in their best outing of the season. Jared Hughes, Ranger Suarez, Mike Morin, Jose Alvarez and Hector Neris combined to pitch five and a third scoreless innings, giving up only three hits and only one walk after Smyly had command and efficiency issues during his outing. If the Phillies relievers can consistently turn in the performance they had tonight, their playoff odds should rise considerably considering the starting staff besides Aaron Nola cannot be relied on to pitch well on a consistent basis. Honorable mentions go out to Harper for his two-run shot over the Green Monster.
Ticket IQ Next Game
- Friday, August 23 at 7:10 against the Miami Marlins @ Marlins Park
- NBC Sports Philadelphia; MLB Network (out-of-market only)
- Sportsradio 94 WIP; WTTM 1680 (Spanish)
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