The Phils began inter league play today with the start of weekend set against the Boston Red Sox. Boston has had rough season thus far and tonight the Phils took advantage of all of Boston's problems. John Lackey, with his ERA over 5, has been a bust as free agent pickup for the Sox this season and the Phils rocked him for 4 runs on 6 hits in just 5 innings. The Red Sox bullpen has not been great this season either, even Jonathan Papelbon has even ERA over 3, and the Phils beat up on them for another run and 3 hits. Finally the Red Sox lineup this season has been hampered by injuries and age and tonight they struggled again thanks to Cole Hamels who went 7 innings while allowing 1 run on 3 hits and striking out 8. They nearly rallied to tie it in the 9th, as David Ortiz hit a long drive to center with the bases loaded, but where that drive would have been a game tying grand slam even 2 seasons ago, it was little more than a long loud final out that died on the warning track in this one.
So the Phils hung on for the 5-1 win. The run came on a leadoff solo shot in the 4th and an RBI single in the 6th by Ryan Howard, a 2 run upper deck bomb in the 5th by Jayson Werth and an RBI single in the 4th by Shane Victorino. David Herndon pitched a gem of a scoreless 8th inning, but it was Danys Baez and J.C Romero who nearly combined to blow it in the 9th. Baez got the first out but then allowed the next 2 batters to reach base, leading Charlie to replace him with Romero. Romero retired the first batter he faced also but then plunked Adrian Beltre to load the bases for pinch hitter, who fortunately flied out to end it. Ultimately it was positive night for the Phils, well except for one play. After singling with one out in the bottom of the 6th, Jimmy Rollings pulled up lame again, apparently re-injuring his calf, and had to be replaced by pinch runner Raul Castro. He is now day to day with a mild calf strain. Hopefully he won't too much more time but who knows. Anway at this point the Phils are 26-15 overall, 4.5 games up in the NL East.
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