Wild catcher’s interference call gives Phillies walk-off win over Boston
When Edmundo Sosa stepped to the plate with bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th, all possibilities to win the game were on the table. Even a catcher’s interference.
On a 1-2 count, Red Sox catcher Carlos Narváez stuck his glove just a little too far out and into Sosa’s bat path. After a replay review, the home crowd at Citizens Bank Park went wild as Sosa was awarded first base, forcing in Brandon Marsh and securing a 3-2 win for the Phillies over Boston in 10 innings on Monday.
The walk-off ending wouldn’t have been possible if not for Max Lazar. The righty made sure the ghost runner on second base to start the top of the 10th wouldn’t come around to score. Lazar struck out two batters and received a nice putout from Trea Turner in the field to enter the bottom of the frame tied at two. For his part, Lazar earned the first win of his major league career.
Earlier in the game, the Phillies counted on their stars to make sure the game remained close. Zack Wheeler rebounded from giving up a lead-off homer to strike out 10 batters and give up two runs over six innings of work. The double-digit strikeout performance marked the fifth time Wheeler struck out 10 batters or more this season. His best moment came in the sixth inning, when he struck out back-to-back batters to strand runners on the corners and keep the game tied at two.
On the other side, Bryce Harper was determined not to let the offense go down quietly. He started off the game 2-for-2 with two doubles, the second two-bagger coming in the fourth inning. Nick Castellanos drove him in on an RBI single and would later come around to score himself, courtesy of an RBI single from J.T Realmuto. Realmuto’s base knock extended his hitting streak to nine games and gave the Phillies a 2-1 lead.
Harper has quickly regained his MVP form over the last couple weeks. The two doubles tonight made it 13 extra-base hits in his last eight games played. The club will need him to continue his level of play as the offense struggles to put runs on the board.
In the big picture, the win means the Phillies hold on to their razor-thin lead in the NL East over the Mets, who picked up a win over the Angels.
The Phillies will look to keep the momentum going when they send Cristopher Sanchéz to the mound on Tuesday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:45 p.m.