Valdez hits a key 2-run double to help the Red Sox rally past the Phillies 8-6

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BOSTON (AP) — Enmanuel Valdez hit a tiebreaking two-run double in Boston’s five-run fifth inning, and the Red Sox beat the Philadelphia Phillies 8-6 on Wednesday night.

Jarren Duran had three of Boston’s 13 hits. David Hamilton had two hits, scored twice and drove in two runs.

The Red Sox, who trailed 4-0 after three innings, had dropped three of four. With the win, they returned to .500 at 34-34.


Boston Red Sox's Enmanuel Valdez watches his RBI double against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Boston Red Sox’s Enmanuel Valdez watches his RBI double against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos each had two hits for NL East-leading Philadelphia, which had won five of six. Bryson Stott had two RBIs.

Harper and Whit Merrifield each hit an early RBI single against Nick Pivetta, and David Dahl doubled home Stott to make it 4-0 in the third.

But Jamie Westbrook drove in Rafael Devers with a sacrifice fly for Boston in the fourth, and the Red Sox went ahead for good with their big fifth inning.

Hamilton, Ceddanne Rafaela and Duran started the rally with three consecutive singles, chasing Cristopher Sánchez. Merrifield committed a throwing error on Duran’s tough chopper up the middle, and Hamilton and Rafaela scampered home on the play.

Rob Refsnyder greeted José Ruiz (1-1) with another single, and Tyler O’Neill’s sacrifice fly tied it at 4. With two outs and runners on the corners, Valdez’s pinch-hit drive off the wall in left gave the Red Sox a 6-4 lead.

Boston added two more in the sixth. Bobby Dalbec reached on a leadoff walk before Hamilton drove a 1-0 fastball from Spencer Turnbull deep to right-center for his fourth homer.

Cam Booser (1-2) pitched a scoreless inning for the win, and Kenley Jansen handled the ninth for his 10th save.


Boston Red Sox pitcher Nick Pivetta delivers to a Philadelphia Phillies batter during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Boston Red Sox pitcher Nick Pivetta delivers to a Philadelphia Phillies batter during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

The Phillies closed to 8-6 when Harper doubled, advanced on a Jansen balk and scored on Alec Bohm’s sacrifice fly. Merrifield walked with two down, but Dahl flied to right for the final out.

Pivetta issued a season-high four walks in four innings. He allowed six hits and struck out four.

Sánchez was charged with four runs and seven hits. He struck out two and walked two.