Products You May Like
Letdown for the Red Sox after a wild comeback win the previous day followed by a late night of travel? Nope. Not even close.
Instead, Friday represented another feel-good night in a feel-good season for manager Alex Cora’s team, which rolled into town with their No. 5 starter Martín Pérez on the mound against Phillies ace Aaron Nola, and won handily by a score of 11-3 at Citizens Bank Park.
With the offense showing some early fight against Nola, Boston’s hitters were in such a good mood that they fought off fits of laughter when Pérez took a hideous swing at a Nola curveball that wound up hitting him on the foot as he struck out to end the top of the second.
Fortunately for the Red Sox, they pay Pérez to pitch and not hit. And he’s been doing that really well of late. Over his last five starts, Pérez has a 2.22 ERA.
In this one, the lefty outdueled Nola by allowing five hits and three runs while walking one and striking out seven over six innings.
The Red Sox were pests against Nola, as the talented righty allowed seven hits and five runs (four earned) over five innings.
Perhaps the Sox also received some energy from the new guy. Danny Santana, making his Boston debut, belted a solo homer from the leadoff spot and made some impressive stretches at first base.
With the win, their third in a row, the Red Sox are 10 games above .500 for the first time this season at 28-18.
The only negative from the night was that Alex Verdugo had to exit at the start of the seventh with left hamstring tightness after belting three hits against Nola.