Despite win, Red Sox strive to overcome home hitting woes in clash vs. Phillies

The Boston Red Sox will look for more from their offense Thursday night when they wrap up a three-game series against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies.

Boston, which has struggled to score at home this season, did just enough to earn a 3-1 victory on Wednesday.

It was the 15th time the Red Sox have scored three runs or less at Fenway Park this season. Boston has been held to 21 runs in its last 11 home games.

"It's well-documented that Fenway is a good place to hit," Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said. "It's surprising that we've hit better on the road than we have here. But again, I think it's more broadly (about) the guys that we have that we're trying to be themselves. We have guys who can (hit doubles and homers). We're just trying to get them right."

The Red Sox hit two home runs in Wednesday's win. After Trevor Story smacked a solo shot in the second inning, Ceddanne Rafaela broke a 1-1 tie with a pinch-hit, two-run home run in the sixth.

"You guys have seen there is a clutch gene in there with him," Tracy said of Rafaela. "He tends to get big hits in big moments. Plainly put, right-on-rights are always a little bit better than left-on-lefts, and you know you want the defense out there.

"We were at the point in the game where we want the center fielder (Rafaela) out there and it's gonna be a right-on-right and he's got the ability to lose one. Just a great at-bat. ... I thought it was a heck of a plate appearance in a pinch-hit spot."

Rafaela's home run came against reliever Orion Kerkering. Philadelphia interim manager Don Mattingly pulled rookie starting pitcher Andrew Painter after five innings and 62 pitches (46 strikes).

"I don't make those decisions," Painter said. "My job is just to go out there and pitch until they tell me not to go anymore."

Producing offense continues to be an issue for Philadelphia as well. The Phillies, who beat the Red Sox 2-1 Tuesday, have failed to score more than one run in 10 of their 43 games.

In Wednesday's loss, Philadelphia was held to three hits, one of which was a solo home run by rookie Justin Crawford.

Phillies left-hander Jesus Luzardo (3-3, 5.77 ERA) is scheduled to start Thursday against Red Sox left-hander Ranger Suarez (2-2, 2.77), who spent eight seasons with Philadelphia before signing a five-year, $130 million contract with Boston in January.

Luzardo has a 4.76 ERA in two career starts against the Red Sox but hasn't figured into the decision in either game.

Suarez will make his first career appearance against the Phillies.

"I miss (Suarez)," Philadelphia's Jose Alvarado said this week. "He did a lot of good things for our team. That's why he means a lot to us, but this is business. He will try to beat us and we will try to beat him."

--Field Level Media