Hernández leads off with homer, Red Sox beat Phillies 11-5
BOSTON (AP) - When Red Sox manager Alex Cora made Kiké Hernández his leadoff hitter, he had one goal in mind: 'œInstant offense."
"That's what we're looking for: For him to hunt fastballs and do damage,'ť Cora said on Friday night after Hernández led off Boston's first with a home run and sparked the Red Sox to an 11-5 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. 'œThat's what he's been doing the last two homestands.'ť
Hernández' homer was his fifth from the leadoff spot this season; only Kyle Schwarber (7) and José Altuve (6) have more. It was also his fifth homer in his last 12 games - four of them in the first inning.
'œHe's a tone-setter at the top of the lineup,'ť Red Sox starter Garrett Richards said. 'œAnd the rest of the lineup isn't any easier. The boys are rolling right now.'ť
J.D. Martinez added a three-run shot in the second inning, his 18th of the season, and Rafael Devers hit his 22nd in the four-run fourth as the Red Sox bounced back from 1-0 and 3-2 deficits to pull away.
Richards (5-5) pitched five innings for his first victory in nine starts since May 19, allowing three runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out four. Returning home from a six-game California swing, Boston won its ninth straight at Fenway Park - its longest home winning streak in 10 years.
'œFor us to get to where we want to go, we have to make this place a home-field advantage again,'ť said Cora, whose team improved to 28-17 at home. 'œWe have to play good here. We've been doing that.'ť
Vince Velasquez (3-4) lasted just 2 1/3 innings for the Phillies, his shortest start of the year. He allowed eight runs on six hits and four walks, striking out two but allowing three home runs.
'œWhen he did throw strikes, he threw a lot of them over the middle,'ť Phillies manager Joe Girardi said. 'œAnd that's a dangerous spot to a team that swings the bat extremely well.'ť
ALL-STAR HEAT CHECK
Martinez had two hits and a walk, driving in four runs. Devers walked twice and had his 72nd RBI - second in the majors to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Xander Bogaerts, Boston's other All-Star position player, singled and scored but also struck out three times. (Pitchers Matt Barnes and Nathan Eovaldi also made the AL team; the five Boston players is the most in baseball.)
Philadelphia catcher J.T. Realmuto doubled in a run in the first inning and added a single in the fifth. Pitcher Zack Wheeler was also named to the NL squad for Tuesday's game in Denver.
THESE BOOTS
The Red Sox had gone five straight games without an error, one short of their longest string of the season, before committing two in the second inning on Friday night. Hernández misplayed Didi Gregorius' single in center for an extra base, and Richards threw away a pickoff attempt.
PITCHING IN
Infielder Ronald Torreyes pitched the eighth for Philadelphia, retiring the Red Sox in order on just five pitches - all strikes.
TRAINERS ROOM
Phillies: Reliever José Alvarado took a line drive from Alex Verdugo off his heel in the seventh inning. He pounced on the ball, but his throw to first was not in time. He was checked out by the trainer but remained in the game.
Red Sox: Catcher Kevin Plawecki (hamstring) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list and catcher Connor Wong was optioned to Triple-A Worcester. Utilityman Danny Santana was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left quad strain, retroactive to July 7, and utilityman Michael Chavis was recalled from Worcester to take his place.
UP NEXT
LHP Matt Moore (0-1) faces LHP MartÃn Pérez (7-4) in the second game of the three-game series.
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