Phillips’ two-out, two-run homer lifts Red Sox over Braves

RED SOX 9, BRAVES 8

ATLANTA — Brandon Phillips hit a two-out, two-run homer in the ninth inning Wednesday, highlighting his long-awaited season debut and capping the biggest comeback by the Boston Red Sox this year for a 9-8 win over the Atlanta Braves.

The Red Sox overcame a late six-run deficit and seesawed past Atlanta to sweep the three-game series between division leaders.

Boston, with the best record in the majors, scored six times in the eighth to make it 7-all. After Freddie Freeman hit a solo homer with two outs in the Braves eighth, the Red Sox bounced back for their 97th win this year.

The 37-year-old Phillips sat out the first half of this year, signed a minor league contract with Boston in late June and was called up from Triple-A Pawtucket on Tuesday. He didn’t play that night, but started at second base in the final game of the interleague set.

After becoming the first player in Red Sox history to wear No. 0,

in one swing the guy with the zero became a gameday hero. Andrew Benintendi singled with one out off A.J. Minter (4-3) and Steve Pearce struck out, bringing up Phillips. On the first pitch, Phillips homered deep into the left field seats.

Braves left fielder Ronald Acuna Jr., who hit another leadoff homer in the first, didn’t move as Phillips’ shot sailed over his head. Phillips scored three runs, drew two walks and made the most of his first hit with Boston.

Braves stadium organist Matthew Kaminski played “Welcome Back” before Phillips’ first at-bat in the second inning. Phillips, a high school star in the Atlanta area who played most of last season with the Braves, tipped his helmet and then walked.

Phillips was a three-time AllStar second baseman with Cincinnati. Known for his acrobatic fielding, he connected for his 211th career home run.

In a game packed with momentum shifts, Freeman hit his tiebreaking homer off Brandon Workman (4-0). Freeman was given his first break from the starting lineup this season before coming off the bench in a defensive switch.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

INDIANS 3, ROYALS 1 Corey Kluber became the first 18-game winner in the majors this season, striking out 10 and pitching the Cleveland Indians past the Kansas City Royals. The Indians moved closer to the third straight AL Central title and reduced their magic number for clinching the division to nine. Kluber (18-7) allowed one run and two hits in 62/3 innings. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner was pulled after throwing 105 pitches. Cleveland used three relievers to complete the two-hitter. Brad Hand struck out the side in the ninth for his eighth save since being acquired San Diego and 32nd this season. Brad Keller (7-6) allowed three runs — one earned — in seven-plus innings and lost for the first time since Aug. 7. The game began in sweltering conditions with the temperature at 91 degrees for the first pitch.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

CARDINALS 7, NATIONALS 6 Matt Adams homered twice against his former team who traded him last month, Marcell Ozuna tied his career-high with four hits and the St. Louis Cardinals held off the Washington Nationals 7-6 on Wednesday night. One night after bashing five homers against Washington, St. Louis settled for three in the rubber game of the series as Yairo Munoz had a solo shot in the sixth. Miles Mikolas (14-4) worked 6 2/3 innings and was charged with four runs on 12 hits. Carlos Martinez worked the final two innings for his first save since 2014, getting three straight outs in the ninth after the first two batters reached. Ryan Zimmerman’s three-run double followed by Wilmer Difo’s RBI single pulled Washington within 7-6 in the seventh. Bryce Harper had three hits for Washington on a day when general manager Mike Rizzo responded that he hasn’t considered any other scenario when asked if manager Dave Martinez will return in 2019. Adams was signed by the Nationals in the offseason. The former Cardinal hit .258 with 18 homers for Washington and was traded back to St. Louis on Aug. 21, the same day Daniel Murphy was dealt to the Cubs. Tuesday’s homers were Adams’ first since the trade. He came into the game 3 for 23 with the Cardinals.

MARLINS 2, PHILLIES 1 Right-hander Sandy Alcantara pitched shutout ball into the eighth inning in his second career start, Austin Dean drove in a pair of runs and the Miami Marlins beat the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1 on Wednesday night. Alcantara (2-0) allowed three hits, walked two and struck out six. His ERA, over 12 innings this season, dropped to 0.75. The Phillies have lost four of five. They remained three games behind Atlanta in the NL East race, after the Braves wasted a 7-1 lead and lost 9-8 earlier Wednesday to the Boston Red Sox. Jose Bautista had a pinch-hit double and eventually scored on Asdrubal Cabrera’s flare into left field in the eighth, but the Phillies mustered nothing else. Derek Dietrich scored both Miami runs, the first when Dean hit into a fielder’s choice in the second, the other on Dean’s single to center in the fourth. Both of those runs were charged to Phillies starter Nick Pivetta (7-11), who gave up three hits and two runs in four innings.

PIRATES 3, REDS 2 Jameson Taillon pitched five effective innings and helped send Homer Bailey to yet another loss as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-2 on Wednesday night to sweep their three-game series. Taillon (12-9) allowed only one run as he scattered eight hits and walked none while striking out six. He is 5-2 with a 2.56 ERA in his last eight starts. Bailey (1-14) lost his ninth straight decision and the Reds are 1-19 in his starts this season after he gave up three runs in five innings. Bailey’s lone win came May 12 at Dodger Stadium. The Pirates lead the season series 12-4.