Sonny Gray controlled the strike zone for six innings, and the Red Sox offense found just enough power to defeat the Phillies 3-1 at Fenway Park on Tuesday night.
Gray (4-1) allowed one run on two hits with six strikeouts and one walk over six innings, carrying a 3.18 ERA. The veteran right-hander retired 15 of the final 18 batters he faced after Justin Crawford's third-inning home run.
The game turned in the sixth inning when Ceddanne Rafaela homered to left center, scoring Wilyer Abreu ahead of him for a 3-1 lead. Rafaela went 1-for-1 with two RBIs, while Abreu collected three hits in four at-bats. Trevor Story had opened the scoring in the second inning with a solo home run to center field.
Andrew Painter pitched effectively for Philadelphia, allowing one run on four hits over five innings with four strikeouts. Tanner Banks (0-3) took the loss after surrendering Rafaela's decisive homer in the sixth. Aroldis Chapman earned his ninth save with a perfect ninth inning, striking out two despite issuing two walks.
Boston snapped a two-game losing streak to improve to 17-24. Philadelphia's three-game winning streak ended as they fell to 20-22.