Reeling bullpen allows the Red Sox to earn a split

PHILADELPHIA » After surviving one disappointing bullpen effort earlier Tuesday, the Phillies could not get away with another.

Less than three hours after a satisfying walk-off victory, the Phillies wasted a decent Vince Velasquez effort and dropped Game 2 of a doubleheader to the Boston Red Sox, 5-2.

David Phelps, who has struggled to find the form he had in Milwaukee earlier in the season, was useless in the sixth, walking Jackie Bradley Jr. on his first four pitches, then surrendering a 408-foot home run to Bobby Dalbec.

That gave the Red Sox a 4-2 lead, momentum and, eventually a series split. Since the Phillies have not swept a doubleheader since Sept. 9, 2012, that was less than surprising. Neither was the continued struggle of the bullpen, which seemed to gain traction after a trade-deadline overhaul but which spread disaster for a third consecutive game.

The Phillies recovered from a poor performance from Tommy Hunter in the opener when Alec Bohm delivered a two-out, two-run walk-off hit. By the end of Game 2, Joe Girardi was reduced to making the case that the Phils have enough capable relief to compete deep into September.

“We’re going to need all these guys in our bullpen,” he said. “They’ve had some struggles lately. But they’re capable of turning it around. Very capable.”

Though JoJo Romero supplied 1.1 innings of effective heat, Heath Hembree followed and allowed a Boston tack-on run, his ERA ballooning to 7.04.