Iron Man: Phillies 4, Red Sox 1

All-Stars are overrated anyway

Cristopher Sánchez proved that he is one of the best starters in baseball, All-Star selection or not, as he threw the third complete game of his career in a 4-1 Phillies win over the Red Sox. Boston entered tonight as the best hitting team in the Majors against left-handed pitching, and Sánchez rolled through them to the tune of 12 strikeouts and four hits. The Phillies offense backed him up with a pair of home runs and another weird play involving interference.

The Wizard

Sánchez was in control right from the start, as he retired the first nine hitters he faced on 34 pitches with four strikeouts. His only blemish came to lead off the fourth inning, when he allowed a solo home run to Rob Refsnyder in a 2-1 count. He struck out Roman Anthony to rebound before allowing a single to Alex Bregman, but then Sánchez quickly escaped the inning with another strikeout and a groundout.

Changes

That started a string of ten in a row retired by Sánchez, including striking out the side in the sixth. He had the Red Sox hitters completely flummoxed by his sinker/changeup combination, generating 13 groundballs and 19 whiffs, 14 of which on his signature changeup.

Let me hear you scream

It appeared that Sánchez’ night was going to be finished after the eighth inning, as Orion Kerkering was warming in the Phillies bullpen with a 4-1 lead. Rob Thomson emerged from the dugout, but that was to put Edmundo Sosa in at third base. Sánchez then stepped out of the dugout to a raucous reception from the home crowd.

He collected his 11th strikeout to begin the frame before getting Bregman to line out to third on two pitches. Sánchez then made quick work of Romy Gonzalez on just three pitches, the last two being changeups, for his 12th strikeout on his 106th and final pitch of the night. Sánchez’ final line was 9 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 0 walks, and those 12 strikeouts. He faced only 3 three ball counts the entire night.

Don’t ask me, I don’t know

Trea Turner led off the Phillies half of the first with a single to left field against Boston starter Richard Fitts. Kyle Schwarber wasn’t able to advance him as he struck out, but Turner was able to advance to third on a hit and run single to the right side from Bryce Harper in a full count.

Nick Castellanos then flipped a 1-2 slider into centerfield on another hit and run attempt, allowing Turner to score and Harper to advance to third.

Going off the rails on a crazy train

Things got weird from there, as Brandon Marsh was at the plate with two on and two out after Castellanos stole second and J.T. Realmuto struck out. Harper took off for home and appeared to slide in safely. The play was ultimately ruled as a balk and another catcher’s interference on Red Sox catcher Carlos Narváez, the second in back-to-back nights and the sixth of the season for the Boston backstop. After the confusion was somewhat settled, the Phillies had an early 2-0 lead.

Flying high again

The offense added two more runs in the second, with Max Kepler leading off the inning with a home run to right field for his 11th of the season. It was Kepler’s first home run since July 2nd.

Kyle Schwarber joined the fun three batters later, as he launched his 33rd homer of the season into center field to put the Phillies up 4-0. It was his third home run in five games since the end of the All-Star break.

That was all the offense would muster on the night, and it was two more runs than Sánchez needed.

I don’t wanna stop

Jesús Luzardo (8-5, 4.29) will take the mound as the Phillies look for a sweep over Lucas Giolito (6-2, 3.59) and the Red Sox. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 on ESPN.