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Phillies unravel Red Sox to take interleague opener

May 19, 2012 - 4:00 AM Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Carlos Ruiz drove in two runs, while Hunter Pence and Freddy Galvis added solo homers as Philadelphia topped Boston, 6-4, in the opener of a three-game interleague series.

Ty Wigginton and John Mayberry added an RBI apiece for the Phillies, who extended their season-high win streak to six games.

Cole Hamels (6-1) worked seven solid innings, allowing six hits and three runs while striking out nine.

"It was nice to get some runs right off the bat," said Hamels, whose club staked him to a 4-0 lead when he went out for the second inning. "I was able to go out and keep the momentum and wear down the opponents."

Jonathan Papelbon continued his great start with his 12th save in as many chances.

Mike Aviles, Cody Ross and Adrian Gonzalez went deep for the Red Sox, who have dropped two of three.

Daniel Bard (3-5) departed after five frames, charged with five runs and three hits while issuing five walks.

Gonzalez hit the facing of the lower deck in right off Chad Qualls with one down in the eighth to bring Boston within 5-4, and after Ross fanned swinging, Antonio Bastardo retired David Ortiz on a grounder to first.

Galvis provided an insurance run on a line homer with one out in the home half, then Papelbon worked around a Kelly Shoppach infield hit to start the ninth to close out the win.

"It wasn't much different -- just a little more juice in the ballpark," said Papelbon about facing the team for whom he helped win two World Series. "But it was just another ballgame and another big save."

After Hamels worked around Aviles' leadoff double in the first, the Phils picked up four in the home half on a two-run single from Ruiz, a line-drive sac fly from Wigginton and an RBI double by Mayberry.

"I'm still in reliever mode and I have to learn how to be more aggressive," Bard said of his disastrous opening frame. "This one is on me."

Boston responded with a run each in the third and fourth frames on an Aviles homer and Daniel Nava sac fly, respectively.

Pence made it 5-2 with a homer to left-center with one out in the fifth, but Ross equalized in the sixth to pull the Sox back within two.

Game Notes

Boston still leads the overall series 27-20, though Philadelphia has won four of the last five meetings...Phils manager Charlie Manuel did not appear, as he was serving his one-game suspension for an argument with umpire Bob Davidson earlier in the week for which Davidson was also suspended...The Phils last won six games in a row from September 5-10...Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine was ejected in the top of the eighth inning for arguing a call at first base.