Final, Phillies 6-4: Just like he did for seven seasons in Boston, Jonathan Papelbon — or Cinco Ocho — shut the door.
In the process, Bobby Valentine got ejected for arguing a call. You just can't write and make this stuff up, I promise you.
At the end of the day, Daniel Bard's unraveling in the first made the difference as Cole Hamels cruised through the lineup.
End 8th, Phillies 6-4: Freddy Galvis took his fellow Venezuelan, Franklin Morales, yard for a solo shot.
And now, the moment you've all been waiting for. Jonathan Papelbon goes up against the Sox. No more "Shipping up to Boston" these days.
Papelbon rocks out to "For Whom the Bell Tolls" by Metallica. Time to see Cinco Ocho in action.
Mid 8th, Phillies 5-4: The Red Sox brought in David Ortiz to pinch hit and the Phillies brought in Antonio Bastardo to relieve.
Well, Bastardo won that round, getting Ortiz to ground out. Now, it possibly sets up exactly what everyone wants to see — Jonathan Papelbon take on the Red Sox.
Must. See. TV.
9:29 p.m.: Adrian Gonzalez' home run guarantee was just a day late, as he blasted a solo shot to right field. It's his first since April 17.
End 7th, Phillies 5-3: Matt Albers nearly got himself in some serious trouble after he loaded the bases.
Fortunately for the reliever, he struck out Ty Wigginton — and nobody got hurt this time around. Speaking of that, Saltalamacchia exited with a left ear laceration.
That makes two clean innings for Albers, who owns a 1.47 ERA after that seventh inning.
Mid 7th, Phillies 5-3: Cole Hamels remains in control of the game, getting Daniel Nava to fly out, Nick Punto to strike out and Mike Aviles to ground out.
Although Punto has had limited at-bats, he's only collected two hits since April 10. The last hit came on May 11, but it's still not the result that he'd like to have.
End 6th, Phillies 5-3: There was another switch with Nick Punto coming in for Will Middlebrooks.
Punto actually received his Cardinals' World Series ring before the game when former manager Tony La Russa made the trip to Philadelphia to give it to him personally.
Let's see if it gives him any extra inspiration or motivation moving forward.
Mid 6th, Phillies 5-3: When Cody Ross is hot at the plate, he's absolutely hot at the plate.
That was his second straight game with a round-tripper. During his days in the National League, he was known as a Phillies' killer.
And here's a note — Daniel Bard just got pulled for Matt Albers. It just wasn't Bard's day this time.
8:55 p.m.: Cody Ross belted his eighth homer of the season, a shot that barely cleared the left field pole.
End 5th, Phillies 5-2: Jarrod Saltalamacchia has exited the game after he took a ball to the side of the head.
Daniel Bard's pitch ricocheted off Ty Wigginton and nailed Saltalamacchia on the head. I'll let you know whatever I hear.
Kelly Shoppach is now in. It was a very scary sequence as Saltalamacchia was down on the ground, writhing in pain.
On the heels of the Will Rhymes' collapse, the Red Sox have run into some tough incidents.
8:42 p.m.: Daniel Bard has allowed a leadoff home run to Hunter Pence in the bottom of the fifth.
Mid 5th, Phillies 4-2: In spring training, I heard some rumblings from some of the pitchers that Daniel Bard was a pretty impressive hitter, dating back to his college days.
That didn't end up being the case in his second at-bat. He absolutely whiffed on some pitches from Cole Hamels.
During the past two weeks, pitchers have worked with hitting coach Dave Magadan. It should be interesting with Lester and Beckett next up.
End 4th, Phillies 4-2: That's 82 pitches for Daniel Bard through four innings. He walked two more batters in that inning.
After his last start, Bard said he felt that he regressed. I wonder what he'll say this time around, considering last start looked like a gem compared to this one.
Before the game, Papelbon issued another vote of support for Bard.
Mid 4th, Phillies 4-2: It's ironic how Cody Ross and Mike Aviles are getting hot at the same time all over again.
Ross started the fourth with a double and eventually scored from Nava's sacrifice fly.
Both of them were leading the Red Sox in homers at one point in April and cooled off over the past few weeks. The Sox need Ross and his bat flips.
End 3rd, Phillies 4-1: And Daniel Bard plunked Carlos Ruiz — who collected two RBIs earlier — in the wrist.
It drew a round of boos from the crowd in attendance at Citizens Bank. I doubt it was on purpose, but with these teams, you just never know what can happen.
To Bard's credit, his changeup has been on fire.
Mid 3rd, Phillies 4-1: Mike Aviles has gone yard, blasting his sixth homer of the season. It's been a quiet drought for Aviles, who delivered five bombs in April.
Who knows, maybe that ejection on Thursday night in Tampa got him in the zone? But that's a double and a homer for him so far.
Either way, he's made Ben Cherington look very smart for his decision to keep him over Marco Scutaro and/or Jose Iglesias.
End 2nd, Phillies 4-0: That was a much smoother inning for Bard, who got out in 14 pitches.
It's still a pretty big hole for the Red Sox to get out of against Hamels for the time being. But on another note, there are a good amount of similarities between these teams.
Both are underachieving with their top superstars out. Jonathan Papelbon certainly noticed that.
Mid 2nd, Phillies 4-0: No dice for the Red Sox in the second inning as Hamels got a 1-2-3 inning.
He struck out Marlon Byrd, who used to play for the Phillies, to end the inning. Before the game, I saw Byrd hugging it out with some former teammates and coaches.
He used to be teammates in Philly with Vicente Padilla, too.
End 1st, Phillies 4-0: Bard is absolutely struggling to hit his spots right now.
Ty Wigginton added a sac fly while John Mayberry doubled in a run to run up the score to four runs. Bard is just putting the ball in places for them to punish him.
It'll be tough for the Red Sox offense, who will have to step it up against Cole Hamels.
7:25 p.m.: Daniel Bard just walked three of first four batters that he faced. Not a strong start for him.
Carlos Ruiz then went on to rip a two-run single to center field, making things pretty difficult already for Bard.
Mid 1st, 0-0: A day after getting his first ejection, Mike Aviles starts this one with a leadoff double.
But Cole Hamels quickly reverted back into Cole Hamels. He struck Dustin Pedroia out swinging, got Adrian Gonzalez to fly out and Will Middlebrooks to pop up.
Bobby Valentine likes what he sees from Middlebrooks, defensively. He called him "sure handed."
6:35 p.m.: Here are the lineups.
Red Sox
Mike Aviles, SS
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Cody Ross, RF
Will Middlebrooks, 3B
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Daniel Nava, LF
Marlon Byrd, CF
Daniel Bard, P
Phillies
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Juan Pierre, LF
Shane Victorino, CF
Hunter Pence, RF
Carlos Ruiz, C
Ty Wigginton, 3B
John Mayberry Jr., 1B
Freddy Galvis, 2B
Cole Hamels, P
8 a.m. ET: Interleague play is back with the Red Sox set to travel to Philadelphia for a three-game series with the Phillies beginning Friday night.
The Sox are coming off of a hard-fought 5-3 win over the Rays in St. Pete, a win that earned the Sox a split with Tampa Bay. They now set their sights on a Philadelphia team that has stumbled out of the gates, thanks in large part to injuries that have taken their toll on the Phillies offense.
The series opener on Friday night will feature Daniel Bard taking the ball for the Red Sox, while the Phillies will turn to left-hander Cole Hamels.
It will also be Boston's first look at Jonathan Papelbon after he left Boston this offseason to become the new closer in Philly. He's a perfect 10-for-10 in save situations with his new club.
First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m., but be sure to tune in to NESN beginning at 6 for pregame coverage.
