Hernández Leads Off With Homer, Red Sox Beat Phillies 11-5
BOSTON (AP) — Kiké Hernández led off the Red Sox first with a home run, J.D. Martinez hit a three-run shot and Rafael Devers also homered on Friday night to lead the Boston Red Sox to an 11-5 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.
Hernández' homer was his fifth from the leadoff spot this season; only Kyle Schwarber (7) and José Altuve (6) have more. Martinez hit his 18th of the season in Boston's three-run second inning and Devers hit his 22nd in the four-run fourth as the Red Sox bounced back from 1-0 and 3-2 deficits to pull away.
Garrett Richards (5-5) pitched five innings for his first victory in nine starts since May 19, allowing three runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out four. Returning home from a six-game California swing, Boston snapped a two-game losing streak and won its ninth straight at Fenway Park.
Vince Velasquez (3-4) lasted just 2 1/3 innings for the Phillies, his shortest start of the year. He allowed eight runs on six hits and four walks, striking out two but allowing three home runs.
ALL-STAR HEAT CHECK
Martinez had two hits and a walk, driving in four runs. Devers walked twice and had his 72nd RBI — second in the majors to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Xander Bogaerts, Boston's other All-Star position player, singled and scored but also struck out three times. (Pitchers Matt Barnes and Nathan Eovaldi also made the AL team; the five Boston players is the most in baseball.)
Philadelphia catcher J.T. Realmuto, doubled in a run in the first inning and added a single in the fifth. Pitcher Zack Wheeler was also named to the NL squad for Tuesday's game in Denver.
THESE BOOTS
The Red Sox had gone five straight games without an error, one short of their longest string of the season, before committing two in the second inning on Friday night. Hernández misplayed Didi Gregorius' single in center for an extra base, and Richards threw away a pickoff attempt.
PITCHING IN
Infielder Ronald Torreyes pitched the eighth for Philadelphia, retiring the Red Sox in order on just five pitches — all strikes.
TRAINERS ROOM
Phillies: Reliever José Alvarado took a line drive from Alex Verdugo off his heel in the seventh inning. He pounced on the ball, but his throw to first was not in time. He was checked out by the trainer but remained in the game.
Red Sox: Catcher Kevin Plawecki (hamstring) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list and catcher Connor Wong was optioned to Triple-A Worcester. Utilityman Danny Santana was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left quad strain, retroactive to July 7 and utilityman Michael Chavis was recalled from Worcester to take his place.
UP NEXT
LHP Matt Moore (0-1) faces Martín Pérez (7-4) in the second game of the three-game series.
(© Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)