The Philadelphia Phillies earned a historic walk-off win against the Boston Red Sox on Monday, July 21 in the most absurd possible way.
With the score tied 2-2 after nine innings and the Red Sox failing to score in the top of the 10th inning, the Phillies began the bottom of the frame with Brad Marsh, who had made the last out in the bottom of the ninth, on second, per Major League Baseball’s extra-inning rules. Otto Kemp, who squared up to bunt Marsh to third, instead took first base on a four-pitch walk.
Red Sox pitcher Jordan Hicks then threw a wild pitch to move the runners to second and third before the Red Sox intentionally walked Max Kepler to try to set up a force out at home. That brought Edmundo Sosa to the plate with the bases loaded and nobody out.
On the fifth pitch of Sosa’s at-bat, the Phillies second baseman appeared to check his swing on a ball outside, but the Phillies dugout immediately challenged. Not the check swing or the ball-strike call, but for something entirely different – catcher’s interference.
Moments later the catcher’s interference was confirmed, giving the Phillies a walk-off 3-2 win to the delight of the Philadelphia crowd at Citizens Bank Ballpark.
According to MLB’s Sarah Langs, it marked just the second walk-off catcher’s interference in at least the divisional era (1969), joining a Los Angeles Dodgers victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Aug. 1, 1971 – with Hall of Famer Johnny Bench behind home plate for the Reds.
The Phillies on Monday night achieved their victory with no balls put in play, only making contact once in the bottom of the 10th when Sosa fouled off the fourth pitch of his at-bat, right before the catcher’s interference.
Max Lazar earned the win for Philadelphia after striking out two in a scoreless 10th. Zach Wheeler started for the Phillies and struck out 10 in six innings, while giving up both Red Sox runs. Walker Buehler started for Boston, going seven innings and allowing two runs, though one was unearned.
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