Categories: 2024 Postgame Recaps

Phillies blow 4-run lead in sloppy loss to Red Sox

Cristopher Sanchez’s ERA is now above three.(Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire)

Final Score: Red Sox 8, Phillies 6

Maybe the jet lag was hitting hard. Or maybe the Phillies were due for a very sloppy game.

The Phillies, who had a 4-0 lead after three innings, surrendered five runs in the fifth inning in an 8-6 loss to the Boston Red Sox.

Three straight singles pushed starter Cristopher Sánchez out the game, but the defense did not make things easier for him. David Dahl’s decision to throw the ball in to third instead of second allowed a runner to move into scoring position. A bad throw from Whit Merrifield on a chopper that would have been an infield hit anyway allowed two to score. Two more runs later scored on a double from Enmanuel Valdez, who gifted the Phillies the third out of the inning trying to advance to third.

The Red Sox piled on in the seventh on a two-run home run from David Hamilton against Spencer Turnbull, who was pitching in his first game since June 1. Turnbull walked three batters in his second inning of work.

The Phillies, who are 25 games over .500 and have a nine-game lead over the Atlanta Braves in the NL East, have done enough over the last two months to earn the benefit of the doubt. Yet, this one was frustrating to watch.

Highlights

The Phillies took an early lead for a second straight day against the Sox on a sharp single by Bryce Harper that deflected off of first baseman Bobby Dalbec’s glove. A second run scored on a Bryson Stott fielder’s choice. Kyle Schwarber led off the inning with a walk and Nick Castellanos doubled to put two runners in scoring position.
Dahl’s hot start continued. He doubled off the Green Monster in left to make it 4-0. A single from Merrifield earlier in the inning made it 3-0.

Castellanos drove a fastball to right field that sailed past the diving glove of Rob Refsnyder and towards the corner in right. He hustled around third, but third base coach Dusty Wathan put up the stop sign. It was a smart move with one out and Harper due up, but he and Bohm struck out to end the inning.
The home plate umpire caught some harsh words from Castellanos. A strike was called on him after a pitch-timer violation and he was not happy.

Stott made it an 8-5 game on a double against left-handed reliever Brennan Bernardino in the seventh.
Seranthony Domínguez recorded two outs with the bases loaded to hold the deficit to three in the seventh. Gregory Soto worked a scoreless eighth inning.

Notes

Former Phille Nick Pivetta struggled against his old club, allowing four runs on six hits. Pivetta allowed four of Boston’s seven walks on the night. The Phillies left six men on base with Pivetta on the mound.
Four earned runs were charged to Sánchez’s line, raising his season ERA from 2.71 to 3.07. It’s the first time he has allowed four earned runs in a game since April 29.

Wednesday’s game marks only the ninth time this season the Phillies have lost while scoring four runs or more. Four of them have come within the last two weeks.

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