PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Chris Sale struck out 10 in six innings, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-3 on Friday night for their seventh consecutive victory.
The game was delayed for about 10 minutes in the first inning when a spectator fell over a protective railing and into the Red Sox bullpen while reaching for a baseball.
Boston rookie Masataka Yoshida extended his hitting streak to 15 games. Kiké Hernández and Enmanuel Valdez each had two hits and drove in a run.
Phillies slugger Bryce Harper was saluted with a 25-second standing ovation prior to his first at-bat. It was the slugger’s first game in Philadelphia since he had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in the offseason. He was 1 for 4 with a single and scored a run.
The defending NL champs have dropped five in a row to fall three games under .500. Nick Castellanos had two hits, including a double, and an RBI for the Phillies.
The 34-year-old Sale (3-2) was charged with three runs and seven hits. The seven-time All-Star is rounding into form after he was hampered by injuries in the previous two seasons.
Boston grabbed a 5-3 lead with two runs in the sixth against Zack Wheeler (3-2).
Jarren Duran doubled and Hernández singled to put runners on first and third with no outs. Triston Casas flew out to the wall in center, scoring Duran and moving Hernández to second. Valdez then hit an RBI single off Connor Brogdon, who relieved Wheeler.
Wheeler gave up four earned runs and seven hits with five strikeouts and no walks.
Kenley Jansen pitched out of trouble in a scoreless ninth for his seventh save.
FAN FALLS
The fan, who was wearing a Phillies jersey, tumbled one level from an open concourse into the Boston bullpen in right-center field. He was taken to the trauma center at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, according to medical personnel on the scene.
The injury occurred when the fan reached over a railing in an attempt to retrieve a ball thrown his way, the Phillies said in a statement. The Phillies said the fan was conscious and responsive upon leaving the ballpark. His injuries were not disclosed.
HYPED FOR HARPER
Phillies fans gave Harper a loud ovation and chanted “M-V-P! M-V-P!” before Harper’s at-bat. He went on to strike out swinging against Sale.
TURNER TIMED OUT
Boston’s Justin Turner was called out on strikes in the fifth inning because he was not ready to bat with eight seconds remaining on the pitch clock, as is required under Major League Baseball’s new pace-of-play rules. Turner disputed the call with plate umpire Doug Eddings, though replays confirmed Eddings’ ruling that Turner was not ready until seven seconds showed on the pitch clock.
STILL STREAKING
Yoshida is batting .433 during the streak, which continued with a second-inning single. The Japanese outfielder, who signed a five-year deal with the Red Sox in December, played against his baseball idol Harper for the first time.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Red Sox: Yoshida was removed from the game after getting hit by a pitch in the right knee in the ninth inning. … RHP Kutter Crawford (left hamstring strain) was placed on the 15-day injured list. He left Wednesday’s 8-3 win over the Blue Jays. RHP Kaleb Ort was recalled from Triple-A Worcester to fill Crawford’s spot.
Phillies: LHP Ranger Suárez (left forearm strain) is on target to return to Philadelphia’s rotation if all goes well with a minor league rehab start on Sunday. In preparation, LHP Matt Strahm is being moved to the bullpen. Strahm is 2-3 with a 3.38 ERA in seven appearances, six starts.
UP NEXT
Red Sox RHP Corey Kluber (1-4, 6.44 ERA) opposes LHP Bailey Falter (0-5, 5.01 ERA) on Saturday night.
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