Boston wins series as Bogaerts fuels barrage vs. Phils' Buchanan
PHILADELPHIA -- The Red Sox made David Buchanan pay for every mistake he made Thursday night in a 6-2 victory over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
Buchanan retired the first two batters he faced in the third inning before the Red Sox proceeded to score six runs on three infield hits, two walks, one bloop triple and one single to center by Boston pitcher Justin Masterson. The Red Sox cruised from there to win the first series of the season.
"That inning can't happen," Buchanan said of the six-run third inning. "Two outs, no runs have scored yet. You've got an open base and you end up walking a guy. You deserve what's coming if you keep doing that."
The Phillies scored a couple runs against Masterson in the third, but otherwise made little noise offensively. Masterson allowed three hits, two runs, two walks and struck out seven in six innings.
"When he's right, he puts the ball on the ground, and he was able to do that here again tonight and helped his own cause with a couple of base hits, but it was a solid six innings," said Red Sox manager John Farrell.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Masterson does it at plate, mound in Red Sox return: Pitching for Boston in a regular-season game for the first time since 2009, Masterson had a standout performance in multiple ways. The righty fired six strong innings to earn the win and also went 2-for-3 with an RBI. It was the first multihit game of Masterson's career. More >
"Just being able to see that slider, being able to mix that slider in for strikes, that's a really good equalizer for me," Masterson said. "That really helped out. Being able to mix in some sinkers and change that speed a little bit on those guys and have a little bit of command, it's just good. It was tough for them."
Video: PHI@BOS: Masterson strikes out seven over six frames
Buchanan battered: Buchanan pitched as well as anybody in Phillies camp this spring, but he struggled against the Red Sox. He allowed seven hits, six runs, four walks and struck out one in just three innings. More >
Bogaerts belts three hits: Shortstop Xander Bogaerts had looked tentative at the plate in Spring Training and in the first couple of games of the regular season. But he came through with three hits in Thursday night's game, including a three-run triple to right that sparked the six-run third inning. More >
Video: BOS@PHI: Bogaerts hits bases-clearing triple to right
Phillies bats stay quiet: The Phillies scored just six runs in three games against the Red Sox and many of the problems started at the top of the lineup with Ben Revere, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard struggling in the series. More >
QUOTABLE
"He got a six-run lead. I think that helped. As a pitcher you can kind of settle in when you know you've got a big lead. You can kind of pick and choose what you want to do. I think we kind of let him off the hook." -- Phillies third baseman Cody Asche, on what made Masterson so effective against them
"I can't [hit]. You get lucky out there. Hit one up the middle, pull one down the line. It's not skill; it's just luck." -- Masterson on the first multihit game of his career
Video: BOS@PHI: Masterson hits a ground-ball RBI single
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Buchanan had allowed three earned runs or fewer in 16 consecutive starts before Thursday. It was the fourth-longest active streak in the big leagues behind Clayton Kershaw (24 straight), Jon Lester (20) and Lance Lynn (17).
Masterson's RBI single marked the first time a Boston pitcher drove in a run since John Lackey on June 29, 2011. Lackey's RBI was also at Philadelphia.
OLD-TIMERS DAY
The Phillies celebrated their 1915 team, which won the franchise's first National League pennant. Those Phillies lost the World Series to the Red Sox in five games. The current Phillies wore 1915-era caps to commemorate the festivities.
Video: BOS@PHI: Barbershop quartet entertains Phillies fans
WHAT'S NEXT
Red Sox: The Red Sox renew their rivalry with the Yankees for the start of a three-game series on Friday night in the Bronx. Lefty Wade Miley makes his Boston debut. He will be opposed by right-hander Nathan Eovaldi, who is making his first start for New York.
Phillies: The Phillies open a three-game series Friday night at Citizens Bank Park against the Nationals, who many predict to win the National League championship. Right-hander Jerome Williams starts for the Phillies. He went 4-2 with a 2.83 ERA in nine starts last season with Philadelphia, but struggled in Spring Training, posting a 7.40 ERA in 20 2/3 innings.