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(Getty Images)
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All things considered, not a bad debut. New
Carmine Hoser Brandon Phillips (wearing uniform number zero) clouted a two-out, two-run HR in the top of the ninth to deliver
a 9-8 win for his new team. Phillips took a
"Ruthian" swing—with a big recoil—as he launched the "no-doubter"
deep into the left-field seats. Boston fell behind 7-1 (thanks mostly to a horrific "relief" outing by
Drew Pomeranz) until they
exploded with another monster eighth-inning—scoring
six times to tie the game. Of course, the bullpen could not hold the tie—as
Brandon Workman coughed up a solo shot to
Freddie Freeman. Then, the
Miracle Ninth.
Andrew Benintendi (three hits on the day)
got it started with a one-out single (off a lefty). After
Steve Pearce struck out, Phillips insured he would never pay for a meal in Boston with his decisive blast. The initial, 8th-inning comeback was fueled by
five straight hits to lead things off—capped by a two-run single by
Ian Kinsler. Phillips, Kinsler and
Blake Swihart each contributed two RBIs. The win drops the
Magic Number to clinch the AL East to 14.
* Headline suggested by FenwayNation friend and fellow baseball nut Ellen Adair.
