Live updates: Phillies vs. Red Sox
The Phillies found the offensive eruption they had been looking for all spring, defeating the Red Sox in Clearwater, 11-4. Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez was tagged with a two-run home run in the first inning but settled down for two clean innings out of three, logging two strikeouts. Adam Morgan was impressive, working his way out of a bases loaded jam with a strikeout and a ground out. Andy Oliver continued to impress, striking out the side in the eighth. Ryan Howard hit his second home run of the spring and Cord Phelps punched a ball out of the park for a three-run shot.
The Phillies' other squad lost in Tampa to the Yankees, 3-2.
Game log below:
Top 9th
Luis Garcia was given the responsibility of closing the game out and induced a fly out before giving up a one-out walk to Sean Coyle. A grounder to third looked to be a game-ending double play, but Deven Merrero beat the throw at first.
Bottom 8th
The Phillies went just as quietly as the Red Sox in their half of the inning.
Top 8th
Andy Oliver replaced Adam Morgan and struck out the side.
Bottom 7th
Jordan Danks led off with his second walk of the day and moved to second when Red Sox pitcher Wade Miley balked. Cord Phelps grounded out, but Odubel Herrera dropped a soft liner in the perfect spot and reached safely, sending Danks to third. Freddy Galvis flew out to center, and Xavier Paul grounded out to short.
Top 7th
Morgan remained in the game, getting Jackie Bradley, Jr. to fly out. Jeff Bianchi trickled a single up the middle and Deven Marrero did the same, putting two runners on. Maikel Franco made an incredible play on a weakly hit grounder up the third base line, but his strong throw didn't beat the runner to the bag and the bases were loaded with one out for Travis Shaw. Morgan got Shaw looking on three pitches and induced a weak grounder from Bryan LaHair to escape the threat.
Bottom 6th
Ryan Howard led off with a solo shot to extend the Phillies lead to 11-4. Brian Bogusevic followed Koyie Hill's ground out with a looping single to left center, but was thrown out at second on a fielder's choice from Maikel Franco, who was picked off first almost instantly.
Top 6th
Adam Morgan took over and started things off by striking out Allen Craig looking with a backdoor curveball. Garin Cecchini gave a Morgan offering a ride, but Odubel Herrera was able to track it down, despite the sun. Bryce Brentz punched a single through the right side, but Morgan got Blake Swihart swinging to end the inning.
Bottom 5th
Carlos Ruiz grounded out to shortstop to start the Phillies' half of the inning, and Grady Sizemore worked a walk. Maikel Franco snuck another hit out of the infield, putting runners at first and second. Jordan Danks' ground out moved everybody up a base, and Cord Phelps walked to load the bases. Odubel Herrera stepped in with two outs and lined a single to left field, knocking in a run to make it 8-4. Freddy Galvis followed suit, knocking in a pair of runs with a single up the middle to make it 10-4. Pinch hitting for Chase Utley, Xavier Paul popped out to short.
Top 5th
Elvis Araujo entered the game to pitch for the Phillies, allowing a lead-off single to Jeff Bianchi, but getting Brock Holt on strikes. A ground ball to Freddy Galvis got the lead runner, and with two outs, Jemile Weeks stole second, but Araujo got Daniel Nava with a 97 mph heater on the outside corner.
Bottom 4th
The Phillies allowed a few glimpses at their upcoming merch for the year:
Grady Sizemore led off with a ground out, and Maikel Franco followed him with an awkwardly bouncing grounder that got under the shortstop's glove and allowed Franco to reach safely. Masterson couldn't find the strike zone and Jordan Danks worked a walk to put runners at first and second and stir activity in the Boston bullpen. Cord Phelps absolutely crushed a serious three-run shot out of the park to give the Phillies a 6-4 lead. He wound up being Masterson's last batter.
Dana Eveland took over for the Sox. Odubel Herrera singled to get himself on, and after a Freddy Galvis ground out got him to second, scored, a Chase Utley single through the right side to make it 7-4. Utley ran to second on the throw, having no trouble with the ankle that's been ailing him. Ryan Howard ripped a line drive down the first base line, but right at Daniel Nava to end the inning.
Top 4th
MAG's day ended as he was replaced by Jonathan Papelbon. MAG threw three innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits, though his control issues were less in that he allowed no walks and two strikeouts to get his ERA down to an even 9.00 for the spring. Papelbon entered and immediately began allowing hits; Daniel Nava led off with a single and got to second on Allen Craig's base hit. Garin Cecchini reached first after a throwing error by Ryan Howard, allowing Nava to score and tie the game at 3-3. Bryce Bentz flew out, allowing Craig to scamper to third, and a Blake Swihart single allowed him to score to make it 4-3 in the Red Sox favor. With runners at first and second, Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a sharp liner, but Freddy Galvis was able to snare it and slip to second for an inning-ending double play.
Bottom 3rd
Chase Utley, still on DH duty, blooped a single to center in front of Jackie Bradley, Jr. Ryan Howard flew out and Carlos Ruiz ended things quickly with a grounder that became a double play.
Top 3rd
MAG's afternoon continued as he got Jeff Bianchi to fly out to start the third. Brock Holt followed suit with another fly ball, and MAG got Jemile Weeks swinging for his first clean inning of the day.
Bottom 2nd
Maikel Franco led off with a high chopper to shortstop for an easy out, but Jordan Danks took Justin Masterson deep to give the Phillies a 3-2 lead. Cord Phelps drew a one-out walk, but a Odubel Herrera fly out and a Freddy Galvis ground out ended the inning.
Top 2nd
MAG had a relatively quiet second inning, compared to his first. He got a pop-out to start things off, but then Red Sox catching prospect/rumored Phillies trade target Blake Swihart tagged him for a single. Swihart was nailed at seocnd by Carlos Ruiz while trying to steal, and Jackie Bradley, Jr. flew out to center.
Bottom 1st
Odubel started the inning with a ground out, but Freddy Galvis followed him with a single to center. With Galvis running, Chase Utley flew out to left center and Galvis had to scamper back to first. Ryan Howard stepped in and blasted a double into the right field corner, knocking in Galvis and bisecting the deficit to 2-1. Carlos Ruiz hit a long single off the end of his bat that scored Howard, tying the game at 2-2. Grady Sizemore's weak spring then continued with a slow ground out to second.
Top 1st
Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez took the mound after leaving his last start when a line drive hit him in the leg. MAG seemed unaffected, getting his first out on only two pitches. But Jemile Weeks then sent a Gonzalez offering into the right field corner, where it wedged under the fence and allowed him to trot into second base standing. Daniel Nava followed and tattooed a breaking pitch over the right center wall to give the Red Sox an early 2-0 lead. MAG sent Allen Craig back to the bench with a well-placed 94 mph cutter on the outside corner for the second out, and induced a fly ball to end the inning.
Pregame
Here's your Phillies lineup vs. Justin Masterson and the Red Sox:
Odubel Herrera, CF
Freddy Galvis, SS
Chase Utley, DH
Ryan Howard, 1B
Carlos Ruiz, C
Grady Sizemore, LF
Maikel Franco, 3B
Jordan Danks, RF
Cord Phelps, 2B