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Fast start lifts Red Sox over Phillies

Jun 18, 2008 - 9:54 PM By Larry Dougherty PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- J.D. Drew gave Philadelphia fans another reason to boo him.

Drew hit a three-run home run in the first inning and matched a career high with four hits Wednesday to lead the Boston Red Sox to a 7-4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Phillies took Drew with their first-round pick in 1997, but he refused to sign with the team. Philadelphia fans have not forgotten, and booed him throughout the series. Drew tormented the Phillies with four RBI on Wednesday.

"They are not going to forget," Drew said. "I know that much. It is always one of those situations where you go out there and battle and you are going to hear things that you do not normally hear at other parks. It makes it fun. I can't try to do extra because of what is going on. I just have to try and keep doing what I am doing."

The Red Sox jumped on Philadelphia starter Kyle Kendrick (6-3) for four runs before the hurler was able to record an out.

After Jacob Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia singled to start the game, Drew belted his 13th homer of the season and second of the series. Mike Lowell followed with his 11th homer, marking the ninth time the Red Sox have hit back-to-back homers this season.

That was enough offense for Boston rookie Justin Masterson (4-1), who allowed two runs and four hits over five innings in his sixth career start.

"The offense put the runs on the board and the defense did what they do," Masterson said. "They made some plays and that is why we got the win today."

The Phillies got one back run in the bottom of the first on Ryan Howard's single, his National league-leading 63rd RBI.

But Drew started another uprising with a one-out double in the third. Lowell was hit by a pitch and Jason Varitek walked to load the bases with two outs. Brandon Moss, who entered the game when Coco Crisp left with discomfort in his left hand, delivered a two-run single to make it 6-0.

Boston added an insurance run in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Drew, who fell a triple shy of the cycle.

"He has been right smack in the middle of the order since the day David (Ortiz) got hurt and he has just been phenomenal," Red Sox manager Tony Francona said. "He took some beautiful swings today and again he is right in the middle of our rallies and he is creating rallies. He has been huge for us."

Pinch-hitter Jayson Werth's run-scoring single pulled the Phillies within 7-2 in the fifth. Pedro Feliz, another pinch-hitter, added a two-run single off reliever Craig Hansen in the seventh.

Manny Delcarmen tossed two scoreless frames - which included working out of a first-and-second jam in the eigth - before Jonathan Papelbon got the final three outs for his 21st save.

"Delcarmen came in and was terrific," Francona added. "He slowed the game down when it was starting to get loud. He got some big outs."

Kendrick, who suffered his first loss since April 16, struggled through his worst outing of the season, surrendering six runs and six hits in three innings.

"They had good at-bats," Kendrick said. "I left some pitches up and they didn't miss them. Some days, they pop those up."

The Phillies have now lost three consecutive series for the first time this season.

"In order to play with those guys, we have to play better," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "I'd like to see them again."