Phillies Late Rally Falls Short
The Phillies fell just short to the Boston Red Sox, 7-6 in a game played at JetBlue Park at Fenway South in Fort Myers, Florida this afternoon.
Jerome Williams returned to the mound after missing his last start due to a tweaked right hamstring. Williams was not sharp, allowing 5 runs (4 earned) on 10 hits and an error over 3 innings of work.
Boston’s starter, Steven Wright, had it going on the afternoon. Wright allowed no runs and only 4 base-runners with 2 strikeouts over 4 innings.
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In the first, Boston took a 1-0 lead on a Dustin Pedroia RBI single that scored Mookie Betts, who had led off the inning with a double. Williams continued to run into trouble in the first and second innings, but utilized the double-play ball to get out of jams.
Betts lead off the 3rd inning for Boston with a generously ruled inside-the-park home run on a ball that Odubel Herrera misplayed in centerfield. Later in the inning, Hanley Ramirez extended the lead to 5-0 on a 3-run homer to bring in Pedroia and Pablo Sandoval ahead of him. Once again, Williams used a double play to get out of the troublesome inning.
In the fourth, Rule 5 selection Andy Oliver came on in relief of Williams. The victim of a couple tough ground balls and a wild pitch, Oliver allowed his first 2 runs of the spring on a Ramirez single. Oliver is believed to be a strong candidate to fill one of the Phillies’ available bullpen spots.
The Phils’ pen did not allow a run the rest of the way. Meanwhile, the offense finally awoke in the late innings to make a run.
Rupp had another solid game this afternoon vs Boston, and appears to be nailing down the backup catcher job.
(Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)
Cameron Rupp put the Fightins on the board with an RBI double in the seventh, his second two-base hit of the day. Andres Blanco continued the damage by doubling in Herrera and Rupp. Blanco went on to score on a failed pick-off play, narrowing the gap to 7-4.
In the 9th, the Phillies once again cut into the Bosox lead on a Jordan Danks 2-run double. Unfortunately, the rally stopped there, and Boston held on for the 7-6 victory.
The Phillies return to action tomorrow against the Minnesota Twins at Bright House Field. David Buchanan gets the start in the 1:05pm game, which can be caught live on local TV on The Comcast Network, and later by delay on the MLB Network.