Red Sox Offense Stays Cold In Loss to Phils

Sports Illustrated

Phillies 2 Red Sox 1
Winning Pitcher: Vance Worley (3-1)
Losing Pitcher: John Lackey (5-7)
Save: Antonio Bastardo (3)



Recap
John Lackey pitched well and even provided a little pop at the plate, but the rest of the Red Sox lineup failed to deliver, and the Red Sox continued to struggle in interleague play as they dropped their sixth in their last eight games, this time 2-1. The big story coming into the game was that Adrian Gonzalez was playing his first game in right field, but that ended up being a non-factor in this game, as there wasn't a ball hit to him that he could have feasibly caught. Lackey actually got off to a shaky start, giving up a couple of hits in the first, but eventually getting out of it with a big double play. He started the second off with a double to Shane Victorino, followed by an RBI single to Raul Ibanez, who would end up inexplicably being the deciding factor in the game. The Red Sox led the next two innings off with a hit, but failed to get anything else. In the fifth, Boston got a one out single from Josh Reddick. After Marco Scutaro flew out to center, John Lackey came to the plate forced to swing because there were two outs. He came through big time, hitting one to the warning track in center for a game-tying RBI double. Lackey continued to pitch well into the seventh, but entered the game in that same 1-1 tie. At the start of the inning, Raul Ibanez, who was 2-2 with a single and a double, hit a solo shot to give the Phillies the lead, and capped off probably his best night of the year. The Red Sox couldn't muster any more offense, and after three infield pop ups in the 9th, fell to the Phillies once again.


Home Runs
Boston: None
Philadelphia: Raul Ibanez (9)


The Red Sox and Phillies finish off this series tomorrow afternoon at 1:05 PM ET. Boston will send Jon Lester (9-4 3.66) to the mound against Philadelphia's Cole Hamels (9-4 2.49).