Red Sox squander 9th inning with baserunning blunders, fall to Phillies 3-2
BOSTON – The Red Sox have made a bad habit of finding different ways to lose this season.
They found a brand new one in Monday night’s 3-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Xander Bogaerts opened the ninth inning with a double, but was thrown out trying to advance to third base on a J.D. Martinez ground ball to shortstop. There were no outs in the inning at the time.
“It’s a big mistake,” Alex Cora said of Bogaerts decision to try to advance to third on a ball hit to his right.
The game ended on an Andrew Benintendi line drive to second. Pinch-runner Chris Owings was then doubled up at first base.
The Sox were shut down by Phillies ace Aaron Nola, who scattered four hits over seven innings of two-run baseball. Jackie Bradley Jr’s two-run home run in the third was all the offense Boston could muster.
Brian Johnson gave up three runs in the first inning, two coming on a Jean Segura double. The lefty lasted 3 2/3 innings and gave up six hits.
The Sox and Phillies will wrap up their quick two-game set on Wednesday. Rick Porcello (11-9, 5.49 ERA) will oppose left-hander Drew Smyly (2-6, 7.09 ERA)