Shane Victorino lifts Red Sox over Phillies, 6-1
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Cole Hamels might have gotten the better of his longtime teammate, but it was Shane Victorino who ultimately got the better of his former team, leading the Red Sox (14-12-1) to a 6-1 win over the Phillies (11-13-1).
Hamels retired Victorino, who signed a three-year, $39 million contract with the Red Sox in the offseason, each time they met Thursday night (pop out, ground out, strike out). In Victorino’s final at bat, this time with reliever Michael Stutes on the mound, the Flyin’ Hawaiian lined a three-run triple over right fielder Pete Orr’s head that put the game out of the Phillies’ reach.
Hamels, who entered the game having allowed only one run in 10 innings in Grapefruit League action, surrendered one earned run on four hits in six innings. He struck out five and walked two. When he left the game, the Phillies and Red Sox were tied at 1.
Stutes started the seventh by getting third baseman Will Middlebrooks to fly out and left fielder Jonny Gomes to pop out. Stutes struggled to throw strikes from there, walking Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Daniel Nava and later Jacoby Ellsbury.
Victorino reached the plate with the bases loaded and promptly cleared them with a drive right at Orr who, out of position, helplessly leapt for the ball.
The Phillies lone run came in the first. After Ben Revere grounded out, Orr singled up the middle. He stole second and advanced to third on a Jimmy Rollins hit to left field. Michael Young then grounded out to second, knocking in Orr from third.
The Phillies managed just that one earned run off Red Sox starter John Lackey, who pitched five innings and allowed four hits and recorded one strikeout.
The Phillies and Victorino’s Red Sox will meet again 1:05 p.m. Sunday in Clearwater. The Phillies head home to Clearwater for a 1:05 p.m. Friday tilt against the Braves. Left-hander Adam Morgan (0-1, 1.93 ERA) gets the call for the Phillies and will be opposed by leftie Paul Maholm.
