Red Sox reactions: Walker Buehler’s solid night spoiled as Boston loses in extra innings

PHILADELPHIA — Instant reactions as the Red Sox (54-48) put up a fight against the Phillies (and ace Zack Wheeler) but ultimately lose in bizarre fashion in extras, 3-2, to open a big series at Citizens Bank Park:

1) It’s not often you see a stranger walk-off than Monday’s. The Red Sox lost on the craziest of plays, with the winning run scoring when Edmundo Sosa’s bat clipped Carlos Narváez’s glove on a catcher’s interference with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th.

After Phillies rookie reliever Max Lazar retired Boston in order, Sox reliever Jordan Hicks came in and struggled. With the ghost runner lurking at second, Hicks walked Otto Kemp and unleashed a wild pitch to Max Kepler before intentionally walking Kepler to load the bases with no outs. Then, on a 2-2 count, Sosa hit Narváez’s glove with his swing. The Phillies challenged, and after a review, were deemed winners.

According to the Red Sox (via the Elias Sports Bureau), it’s just the second walk-off catcher’s interference since 1920. The other came in 1971 when the Dodgers beat the Reds under similar circumstances.

A hard-fought loss — in a really good baseball game — spoiled an encouraging evening from Buehler. Boston is now 0-7 in extra-inning road games in 2025.

2) On paper, it seemed like it would be hard for Walker Buehler to hold his own in a matchup against Phillies ace Zack Wheeler, but he did just that. Buehler completed seven innings for just the second time this season (the other was April 21), working around jams to hold the Phils to just two runs (one earned) on six hits. The efficient Buehler needed just 89 pitches to get through seven. It was a large step in the right direction for the embattled righty, who has now put together three solid starts to begin July.

Wheeler, of course, did Wheeler things, striking out 10 batters in six innings. But the Red Sox must have been pleased to chase him with the game tied, 2-2.

3) Jarren Duran hasn’t shown as much power this year as he did in 2024, when he slugged 21 homers. But of his nine so far this year, four have come to lead off a game. He went the opposite way to open the scoring against Wheeler in the first.

4) As he often does when the matchup dictates doing so, Alex Cora went to Aroldis Chapman in the eighth instead of the ninth. Chapman allowed a leadoff single to pinch-hitter Edmundo Sosa, who then advanced to second on a wild pitch. But Chapman won a nine-pitch battle against Trea Turner for the first out, got Kyle Schwarber to fly out, then struck out Bryce Harper on a 100 mph heater to end the inning.

Whitlock then struck out all three batters he faced in the bottom of the ninth before Hicks was called upon in extras.

5) Ten days after Alex Bregman’s early return from a quad strain, it remains clear he’s not at 100%. The “Bregman Rules” in regards to running the bases are still in play and the veteran often looks a bit hobbled running the bases. That was very evident in the sixth, when Roman Anthony smoked a 106.7 mph double down the right field line and Bregman pulled up at third as Nick Castellanos gathered the ball in the corner. Bregman scored two pitches later on Trevor Story’s game-tying single, so it didn’t end up mattering. But don’t mistake Bregman being back as a sign he’s a full-go quite yet.

Of course, the Red Sox will take the trade-off if Bregman is going to do things like he did Sunday in Chicago.

6) Boston had its chances to do even more against Wheeler, who Alex Cora said he considers to be the best pitcher in baseball before the game. In the second, Bregman worked a 3-1 count with two men on (and was a ball away from loading the bases with no outs) before grounding into a double play. Wheeler then punched out Anthony to end the inning.

Wheeler also got back-to-back strikeouts with two men on to keep the game tied in the sixth. The Sox were 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

7) Marcelo Mayer continues to put on a nightly show at whichever position he’s playing — and Monday was no exception. He made two stellar plays at second base in the fifth, first robbing Max Kepler of a hit with a leaping catch, then three batters later on a Kyle Schwarber groundout.

8) Story’s sixth-inning stolen base made him a perfect 17-for-17 on such attempts so far this season. That’s a sign of a high baseball IQ.

9) It’ll be another tall order for the Red Sox’ offense Tuesday night with the Phillies sending breakout star Cristopher Sánchez (8-2, 2.50 ERA) to the mound. Rookie Richard Fitts (1-3, 4.28 ERA) will start for Boston, making his first appearance since July 7. First pitch is once again at 6:45 p.m. ET.

Read the original article on MassLive.

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Red Sox reactions: Walker Buehler’s solid night spoiled as Boston loses in extra innings

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