{"id":285,"date":"2026-05-14T06:33:51","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T06:33:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\/?p=285"},"modified":"2026-05-14T06:33:51","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T06:33:51","slug":"home-run-balls-help-carry-red-sox-to-victory-over-phillies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\/?p=285","title":{"rendered":"Home run balls help carry Red Sox to victory over Phillies"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Wednesday was a Plan A kind of day for the Red Sox.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a 3-1 win over the Phillies, virtually every facet of the game went their way at Fenway Park, just as they drew it up over the offseason.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more Red Sox\u2019 elder statesmen on the mound, Sonny Gray and Aroldis Chapman show there\u2019s more than one way to get outs<\/a><\/p>\n

It began with a sharp outing from righthander Sonny Gray, the high-profile starting pitcher acquisition, and featured just enough pop, most notably Ceddanne Rafaela\u2019s pinch-hit, go-ahead, two-out, two-run home run in the sixth inning.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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They sprinkled in sparkling defense \u2014 from shortstop Trevor Story, first baseman Willson Contreras, and reliever Garrett Whitlock \u2014 and finished with the late-inning bullpen trio of Justin Slaten, Whitlock, and Aroldis Chapman.<\/span><\/p>\n

Consider it the blueprint \u2014 rarely used in the Sox\u2019 sideways season, but proven to be still possible as they improved to 18-24.<\/span><\/p>\n

Related: <\/span><\/span>Garrett Crochet hopes to accelerate return to Red Sox by skipping rehab assignment<\/div>\n

\u201cThat was just good baseball,\u201d Whitlock said. \u201cWhen you pitch and when you play defense, you give yourself a chance to win, and the offense did a great job. That\u2019s just trying to play solid baseball.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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