Red Sox reactions: Ceddanne Rafaela’s first career pinch-hit homer leads Boston over Phillies
Instant reactions from the Red Sox' 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday:
BOSTON — Instant reactions from the Red Sox ' 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday: 1. The Red Sox improved to 18-24 while the Phillies dropped to 20-23. Boston now is 8-13 at Fenway Park and 13-20 when facing a right-handed starter.
2. Interim manager Chad Tracy didn’t start Ceddanne Rafaela because he wanted to get the left-handed bats of both Mickey Gasper and Masataka Yoshida in the lineup against Phillies right-handed starter Andrew Painter. But Tracy said before the game, “You’ll probably see him (Rafaela) late.
” Tracy used Rafaela as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning with lefty reliever Tanner Banks on the mound and the game tied 1-1. The Phillies countered, bringing in righty Orion Kerkering to face Rafaela. Rafaela crushed a 96.
8 mph fastball from Kerkering for a two-run home run into the Monster Seats. It put Boston ahead 3-1. 3.