PHILADELPHIA — Pinch-hitter Andrew Benintendi’s sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth inning lifted the Boston Red Sox to a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday night.
The Phillies fell 3½ games behind the Chicago Cubs for the second NL wild-card spot and also trails the Brewers and Mets.
Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodríguez had a season-high 12 strikeouts but missed a chance for his 18th win when he walked home the tying run in the bottom of the seventh. He allowed one run and four hits in 6 2/3 innings.
Mitch Moreland led off the ninth with a single off Hector Neris (3-6) and Christian Vázquez ripped a single to left-center, sending pinch-runner Chris Owings to third. Shortstop Jean Segura made a leaping catch on Jackie Bradley Jr.’s hard liner, but pinch-hitter Brock Holt walked to load the bases. Benintendi then sliced a fly ball to left that scored Owings.
Matt Barnes (5-4) tossed a scoreless eighth and Brandon Workman finished for his 16th save in 22 tries.
Phillies ace Aaron Nola gave up one run and four hits, striking out nine in seven innings.
Nola took a two-hitter into the seventh before running into trouble. Rafael Devers walked to start the inning and J.D. Martinez singled up the middle. After Moreland struck out, Vázquez drove a double off the wall in left-center to score Devers.
Nola then walked Bradley to load the bases, but Gorkys Hernández grounded into a third-to-home forceout. Red Sox Manager Alex Cora elected to keep Rodríguez in the game, and Nola struck him out to end the inning.
Rodríguez surrendered the lead in the bottom half.
Bryce Harper led off with a single and César Hernández hit a two-out single. Rodríguez hit Adam Haseley with a pitch to load the bases, and Maikel Franco walked on a 3-2 pitch, forcing in the tying run.
Josh Taylor replaced Rodríguez and struck out pinch-hitter Phil Gosselin.
Nola retired the first 10 batters before Xander Bogaerts lined a single to right in the fourth.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Red Sox: Outfielder Mookie Betts was scratched because of a sore left foot, and Holt was scratched because of illness. Cora said Betts could return Sunday or Tuesday.
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