When the Phillies signed Aaron Harang to a one-year, $5 million deal in late December, they were hoping for a veteran presence in the rotation that could eat some innings.
Harang did much more than eat innings in his Phillies debut Wednesday night, tossing 6 1/3 scoreless innings.
The Phillies would get their first run(s) of the season in the game as well, as veteran Jeff Francoeur, who came to Spring Training as a non-roster invitee, smacked a three-run home run to center to give the Phillies the lead on their way to a 4-2 win.
Harang did much more than eat innings in his Phillies debut Wednesday night, tossing 6 1/3 scoreless innings.
The Phillies would get their first run(s) of the season in the game as well, as veteran Jeff Francoeur, who came to Spring Training as a non-roster invitee, smacked a three-run home run to center to give the Phillies the lead on their way to a 4-2 win.
Harang would deal from the outset for the Phillies, retiring the first 11 batters faced, including striking out six. Pablo Sandoval would break up Harang's no-hitter with a two-out single in the fourth, but the veteran righty would get right back into his groove, retiring the next seven hitters.
After being held scoreless for the first 14 1/3 innings of the season, the Phillies would finally get on the board, when Francoeur took a third-pitch slider to left center for a three-run home run.
Harang would hand things over to the bullpen after 6 1/3 innings, and the Phillies would tack on one more run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Chase Utley to extend their lead to 4-0.
The Red Sox would threaten, however, scoring two runs off Ken Giles in the eighth, as the youngster struggled, walking three batters and allowing one hit before being lifted after just 2/3 of an inning pitched.
Jonathan Papelbon would replace Giles, and would nearly allow Hanley Ramirez to hit his second grand slam of the season. Papelbon would receive some assistance from the wind, which knocked the ball down and helped preserve the Phillies' lead.
Papelbon would return for the ninth, retiring the side and picking up his first save of the season in the Phillies' 4-2 win over the Red Sox.
Up next: The Phillies will finish their series with the Red Sox on Thursday evening. David Buchanan will take the mound for the Phillies, facing off against Justin Masterson of the Red Sox.
By: Kyle Babcock
Follow us on Twitter: @BroadStBeat
After being held scoreless for the first 14 1/3 innings of the season, the Phillies would finally get on the board, when Francoeur took a third-pitch slider to left center for a three-run home run.
Harang would hand things over to the bullpen after 6 1/3 innings, and the Phillies would tack on one more run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Chase Utley to extend their lead to 4-0.
The Red Sox would threaten, however, scoring two runs off Ken Giles in the eighth, as the youngster struggled, walking three batters and allowing one hit before being lifted after just 2/3 of an inning pitched.
Jonathan Papelbon would replace Giles, and would nearly allow Hanley Ramirez to hit his second grand slam of the season. Papelbon would receive some assistance from the wind, which knocked the ball down and helped preserve the Phillies' lead.
Papelbon would return for the ninth, retiring the side and picking up his first save of the season in the Phillies' 4-2 win over the Red Sox.
Up next: The Phillies will finish their series with the Red Sox on Thursday evening. David Buchanan will take the mound for the Phillies, facing off against Justin Masterson of the Red Sox.
By: Kyle Babcock
Follow us on Twitter: @BroadStBeat
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