Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) – Aaron Harang tossed 6 1/3 shutout
innings in his Phillies debut and Jeff Francoeur hit a three-run homer as
Philadelphia topped the Boston Red Sox 4-2 in the middle test of a three-game
interleague set.
Harang (1-0) scattered two hits, walked just one and struck out eight for the
Phillies, who were shut out 8-0 in the series opener Monday.
Jonathan Papelbon posted a four-out save against his former team for his first
of the season.
Pablo Sandoval, who went 0-for-5 in his Red Sox debut, tallied two hits for
Boston. Rick Porcello (0-1) made his first start for Boston after being
acquired in a trade from Detroit during the offseason. He allowed three runs
on six hits and two walks over six frames.
The Phillies had tallied just three hits and moved just one runner into
scoring position over their first five innings before pushing across three
runs in the sixth and another in the seventh.
Darin Ruf worked a one-out walk, Cody Asche singled and Francoeur launched a
towering shot to left-center field that just crept over the wall, with the
ball ricocheting off the top of the metal fencing behind the flower bed before
landing in the seats.
Chase Utley added a sacrifice fly in the seventh for a 4-0 Philadelphia
advantage.
Boston’s bats were even quieter early on. The Red Sox mustered just one hit
over their first six frames against Harang prior to threatening in the seventh
and eighth.
Mike Napoli lined into an inning-ending double play to Freddy Galvis at
shortstop in the seventh with runners on first and second.
Daniel Nava reached on a Ruf fielding error at first to lead off the eighth.
Ryan Hanigan walked and Xavier Bogaerts’ base hit to left brought home Nava.
Ken Giles then struck out pinch-hitter David Ortiz and got Mookie Betts to fly
out to right, but consecutive free passes to Pedroia and Sandoval plated
Hanigan.
Papelbon came on and Ramirez smacked a fly ball to the warning track that was
tracked down by Ben Revere.
Game Notes
Papelbon picked up 219 of his 326 career saves with the Red Sox. It was his
first four-out save since May 11, 2013 … Francoeur’s blast was his first in
the big leagues since June 16, 2013 … The Phillies were 1-for-3 with runners
in scoring position, while Boston finished 1-for-6 with RISP.
