BOSTON (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Boston’s Ceddanne Rafaela hit a two-run homer and Trevor Story also went deep, propelling the Red Sox to a 3-1 victory over the visiting Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night. After Wilyer Abreu singled in the sixth, Rafaela pinch-hit for Masataka Yoshida and delivered his fourth home run of the season to put Boston in front 3-1.
Story gave the Red Sox a 1-0 lead when he homered against Andrew Painter in the second inning. It was his third home run of the season.
Boston received six innings from starting pitcher Sonny Gray (4-1), who limited the Phillies to a run on two hits. He struck out six and waked one. Justin Slaten, Garrett Whitlock and Aroldis Chapman each tossed a scoreless inning of relief.
The Phillies had runners on second and third with two outs in the ninth thanks to two walks and a double steal, but Chapman earned his ninth save by striking out Alec Bohm to end the game.
Justin Crawford hit a solo home run for Philadelphia, which entered the matchup on a three game winning streak. Tanner Banks (0-3) was charged with a run in two-thirds of an inning.
Abreu collected three of Boston’s eight hits. Story finished 2-for-3 as the Red Sox ended a two-game losing streak.
Kyle Schwarber began the night with at least one home run in each of the past five games, but he went 0-for-2 with two walks. No Philadelphia player has ever homered in six straight games.
Painter exited the mound after five innings. He allowed a run on four hits and no walks with four strikeouts. He threw 62 pitches, 46 of which were strikes.
Shortstop Trea Turner wasn’t in Philadelphia’s starting lineup, but he drew a walk when he pinch-hit with two outs in the ninth. Interim manager Don Mattingly said Turner was ill.
After Story homered, Philadelphia made it a 1-1 game when Crawford hit his second home run of the season in the third inning.
Rafaela’s home run capped the scoring.
–Field Level Media