Red Sox Make MLB History With Unprecedented Comeback Vs. Phillies
Wednesday night looked like it was going to be another rough one for the Boston Red Sox.
Lucas Giolito didn’t have his best stuff, surrendering three runs on back-to-back homers by Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper in the bottom of the first. He then yielded solo homers to Nick Castellanos in the third and Bryson Stott in the fourth, digging his team into a 5-0 hole.
Jesús Luzardo was cruising for the Phillies, and with the way the Red Sox have been swinging the bats lately, a comeback appeared unlikely. The 42,601 fans at Citizens Bank Park could smell a sweep.
But Boston fought back, erupting for six runs in the top of the fifth and taking the lead on Romy González’s first career grand slam. Suddenly, the Red Sox had new life.
With both starters gone by the sixth, the bullpens battled from there. Philadelphia rallied to tie the game at 6-6 in the bottom of the eighth on J.T. Realmuto’s two-out solo homer off Aroldis Chapman — just the third long ball he’s allowed all year and his first run given up since June 9.
The game went to extra innings, where Boston’s struggled this year. Prior to Wednesday’s game, the Red Sox were 5-10 in extras, including 0-7 on the road.
Both teams traded runs in the 10th, with Carlos Narváez throwing out Weston Wilson trying to steal second base to end the frame. Then, with the score tied at 7-7, Narváez launched a go-ahead two-run homer in the top of the 11th.
The Phillies got a run back in the bottom half, causing Alex Cora to bring in Brennan Bernardino with two outs and the tying run on first. Bernardino struck out Max Kepler to end the game, capping off one of Boston’s wildest wins of the season.
It was also a historic victory. According to OptaSTATS, the Red Sox became the first team in Major League history to win a game where they struck out at least 15 times, allowed at least five home runs and trailed by at least five runs.
Despite losing its second series in a row since the All-Star Break, Boston improved to 55-49 with the win and remains in the third American League wild card spot. The Red Sox will get a day off on Thursday to recharge before hosting the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers at Fenway Park this weekend.