Final
Saltalamacchia, Red Sox power past Phillies
May 20, 2012 - 3:38 AMVideo
David Ortiz had a two-run homer, while Mike Aviles and Will Middlebrooks added solo shots for Boston, which has split the first four games of its eight-game road trip.
Jon Lester (3-3) gave up four runs on eight hits in six innings to pick up the victory, while his counterpart, Joe Blanton took a loss at home for the first time in over two years.
Blanton (4-4), who was 8-0 in 17 home starts dating back to May 8, 2010, surrendered seven runs -- six earned -- on nine hits in 4 1/3 innings.
"Threw a lot of pitches down the middle tonight. Not good results when you do that," said Blanton. "It was just one of those days."
Freddy Galvis hit a two-run homer, while Shane Victorino went 3-for-5 with an RBI but popped out to leave the bases loaded in the eighth.
Philadelphia went 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11.
The hosts had two hits in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings and failed to score. In the seventh, Ryan Sweeney robbed Carlos Ruiz of a potential two-run double with a sensational diving catch on the center field warning track.
"I thought it saved the game," Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said. "That's a highlight-reel catch. He had full extension and dove and I think made a game- saving catch."
Jimmy Rollins saved a run in the eighth when the shortstop threw to the plate from his knees and nabbed Saltalamacchia trying to score. Rollins then beat out an infield single in the bottom half to knock in Ty Wigginton and pull the Phillies within 7-5.
Aceves gave up the hit to Rollins, then walked John Mayberry on four pitches to load the bases with two outs. On the next pitch, Victorino popped out to Aviles at short to end the threat.
Aceves locked down his ninth save with the help of a double-play line drive off the bat of Ruiz in the ninth.
The Red Sox hit three homers in the series opener -- a 6-4 Phillies win -- and kept their big bats going Saturday with Aviles' first career leadoff blast.
There were no longballs in the second, but Boston tacked on two more runs when Saltalamacchia and Sweeney reached on hits and scored on ground balls hit in the infield.
In the home third, Victorino had to settle for an RBI double after nearly clearing the left-field fence, a problem Middlebrooks and Saltalamacchia didn't have when they cranked back-to-back shots off Blanton in the fourth.
Hector Luna, like Victorino, narrowly missed homering in the fifth, though his single off the left-field wall plated Ruiz. Luna did trot home, however, as Galvis connected on his third round-tripper of the season.
Ortiz followed Dustin Pedroia's leadoff single in the fifth with a moonshot to straightaway center.
Game Notes
Before the game, outfielder Pat Burrell officially retired as a Phillie after signing a one-day minor league contract...Mayberry and Luna each had three of the Phillies' 13 singles...Lester, who four years ago on May 19 threw a no- hitter against the Royals, had pitched to a 0.43 ERA at Citizens Bank Park coming in...With Ortiz playing first base, Adrian Gonzalez started in right field and went 0-for-4.
- BOSTON: 7
PHILADELPHIA: 5
Final
May 19 10:28 PM - Jimmy Rollins infield single to short scored Ty Wigginton. On the play, Hector Luna advances to third. Runners on first and third with two outs and John Mayberry due up.
Red Sox 7, Phillies 5 Bot 8, 2 OutsMay 19 10:10 PM - David Ortiz none-out, two-run Home Run (9) to center scored Dustin Pedroia. Adrian Gonzalez due up.
Red Sox 7, Phillies 4 Top 5, 0 OutsMay 19 8:37 PM - Joe Blanton grounded out short to first. None on with two outs and Jimmy Rollins due up.
Red Sox 5, Phillies 4 Bot 4, 2 OutsMay 19 8:31 PM - Hector Luna singled to left scored Carlos Ruiz. Runner on first with one out and Freddy Galvis due up.
Red Sox 5, Phillies 2 Bot 4, 1 OutMay 19 8:29 PM - Jarrod Saltalamacchia none out, solo Home Run (6) to right center. Ryan Sweeney due up.
Red Sox 5, Phillies 1 Top 4, 0 OutsMay 19 8:16 PM - Will Middlebrooks lead-off Home Run (5) to right center. Jarrod Saltalamacchia due up.
Red Sox 4, Phillies 1 Top 4, 0 OutsMay 19 8:14 PM - Shane Victorino doubled to left scored John Mayberry. Runner on second with two outs and Hunter Pence due up.
Red Sox 3, Phillies 1 Bot 3, 2 OutsMay 19 8:10 PM - Jon Lester grounded into a double play, second to short to first scored Ryan Sweeney. Daniel Nava out at second. None on with two outs and Mike Aviles due up.
Red Sox 3, Phillies 0 Top 2, 2 OutsMay 19 7:47 PM - Mike Aviles lead-off Home Run (7) to left center. Dustin Pedroia due up.
Red Sox 1, Phillies 0 Top 1, 0 OutsMay 19 7:18 PM - BOSTON: 0
PHILADELPHIA: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
May 19 7:17 PM
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