BOSTON - Phillies manager Charlie Manuel couldn’t resist bringing in Jonathan Papelbon to face his former team, even though Cliff Lee needed just 95 pitches to shut the Boston Red Sox down for most of the first eight innings.
“Kind of wanted to see it, if you want to know the truth,” Manuel said after the former Red Sox closer finished off the 3-1 victory over Boston on Tuesday night. “Pap likes drama. Might as well like it with him.”
Lee pitched eight innings of four hit ball but gave way in the ninth to Papelbon, who earned his first save at Fenway Park as a Red Sox opponent. Papelbon, who helped Boston win the 2007 World Series, entered to boos, then retired the Red Sox in order for his 10th save of the season.
“I wanted to [finish],” said Lee, who retired 22 of the next 23 batters after allowing a first-inning run. “Pap’s been throwing the ball really well so it’s hard to argue with him coming in right there, especially being back in Boston. That was big to get us the win, and I’m sure he wanted that opportunity.”
Lee (6-2) struck out eight to match his season high and walked none to win his fourth consecutive decision. Michael Young and Domonic Brown homered for the Phillies, and Erik Kratz singled in the tie-breaking run in the seventh inning to snap Boston’s four-game winning streak.
Ryan Dempster (2-6) allowed 2 runs on 6 hits and 3 walks, striking out 4 in 7 innings for Boston.
The Red Sox closer from 2005 until he left as a free agent in 2011,Papelbon was honored with a scoreboard video at Monday’s game, but he didn’t pitch in the series opener because Boston won 9-3. He entered on Tuesday night to a chorus of boos and without the theme song “Shipping up to Boston” he used for much of his career here.
“That’s how they love you in this city, man,” Papelbon said. “That’s just how it is. It’s the atmosphere in this city. I’ve always enjoyed playing in this city and pitching off that mound. It really felt like old times.”
He retired the Red Sox in order, pumping his fist in celebration after getting David Ortiz on a grounder to the right side of the shifted infield to end the game.
That was all the support Lee needed on a night when he again helped the Phillies stop a losing streak. Lee is 5-1 this season in eight starts following a Phillies loss.
BRAVES 7, BLUE JAYS 6 (10) Brian McCann hit two home runs, including a solo shot in the 10th inning, that lifted visiting Atlanta over Toronto. ROCKIES 2, ASTROS 1 Michael Cuddyer had three hits, including an RBI single in the ninth inning, that gave Colorado a victory over host Houston.
CARDINALS 4, ROYALS 1 Carlos Beltran hit a two-run home run against his former team, rookie Tyler Lyons made another dazzling start and St. Louis beat host Kansas City for the Royals’ 10th consecutive home defeat.
REDS 8, INDIANS 2 Xavier Paul singled home two runs in the first inning, and Cincinnati completed a two-game home sweep of visiting Cleveland.
RAYS 7, MARLINS 6 Desmond Jennings drove in the winning run with a two-out single in the bottom of the ninth inning, lifting host Tampa Bay to a victory over Miami.
NATIONALS 9, ORIOLES 3 Adam LaRoche homered twice and drove in four runs as Washington enjoyed a rare offensive outburst and a victory at the expense of visiting Baltimore.
PIRATES 1, TIGERS 0 (11) Neil Walker ended a lengthy pitching duel, homering in the 11th inning to lift Pittsburgh over host Detroit.
METS 2, YANKEES 1 David Wright and Lucas Duda hit RBI singles off Mariano Rivera in the ninth inning, and the New York Mets rallied past the visiting New York Yankees to beat baseball’s career saves leader only hours after honoring him at Citi Field.
Tuesday’s games INTERLEAGUE Atlanta 7, Toronto 6 (10) Colorado 2, Houston 1 Washington 9, Baltimore 3 Pittsburgh 1, Detroit 0 (11) Cincinnati 8, Cleveland 2 Tampa Bay 7, Miami 6 NY Mets 2, NY Yankees 1 Philadelphia 3, Boston 1 St. Louis 4, Kansas City 1 Chicago Cubs at Chicago, ppd., rain Minnesota at Milwaukee, (n) San Francisco at Oakland, (n) LA Angels at LA Dodgers, (n) San Diego at Seattle, (n)
Sports, Pages 20 on 05/29/2013