A walk-off catcher's interference gives the Phillies a 3-2 win over Red Sox in extras

Scott Lauber, The Philadelphia Inquirer on Jul 21, 2025

Published in Baseball

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

PHILADELPHIA — When the bullpen door swung open before the 10th inning Monday night, none of the usual suspects stepped out.

Orion Kerkering? Already pitched.

Matt Strahm? Same.

Jordan Romano? Not an option, apparently.

Instead, the Phillies went with Max Lazar. Mark down the name. Because he’s becoming a more central figure in the bullpen mix — and after what he did against the Boston Red Sox, his profile is only rising.

First, the particulars: The Phillies won, 3-2, in 10 innings on a catcher’s interference call, of all things. With the bases loaded and no outs, Edmundo Sosa fouled off a pitch. But a replay review showed that Red Sox catcher Carlos Narváez reached out too far with his mitt. Sosa’s bat hit the glove, causing the interference.

It was the Phillies’ third walk-off victory this season, the first since June 9 against the Cubs, and by far, the strangest in recent memory.

Let it be said, though, that this was the Max Lazar Game.

The Phillies are looking everywhere for bullpen help before the July 31 trade deadline. In the series-opener against the Red Sox, they got it from a right-hander who wasn’t even on the roster until May 19.

Facing the top of the Red Sox’s order with the auto runner on second base, Lazar struck out Jarren Duran on a cutter. He got Alex Bregman to ground out on a solid play in the hole by shortstop Trea Turner.

Then, Lazar threw a first-pitch curveball to get ahead of Roman Anthony. He got Anthony to swing and miss at a 95 mph fastball before making him fish for the curve in the dirt.

One. Two. Three.

Easy as that.

Lazar has quietly pitched well since getting called up from Triple-A. In 22 2/3 innings over 18 appearances, he has allowed 17 hits and eight walks. He has a 3.18 ERA. And with every appearance, he gains more of manager Rob Thomson’s trust.

The Phillies won without getting a hit in the 10th inning against hard-throwing Red Sox righty Jordan Hicks, whom the Phillies targeted in free agency two years ago. Hicks walked Otto Kemp, then walked Max Kepler intentionally to set up a force at every base.

As it turned out, Sosa didn’t have to get a hit, either.

It was a grind for Zack Wheeler from the first batter.

Making his first start since July 12 after getting extra rest for the All-Star break, Wheeler left his fifth pitch — a 97.7 mph fastball — belt-high and over the plate. And Duran knocked it into the left-field bleachers.

Wheeler set down 13 of the next 17 batters but ran some deep counts and expended 105 pitches to get through six innings.

As ever, though, Wheeler didn’t give up much.

The Red Sox scored a second run by bunching three hits in a row in the sixth inning. Bregman singled, went to third on Anthony’s double, and scored on an RBI single by Trevor Story. But Wheeler struck out Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela to maintain a 2-2 tie.

For the 17th time in 20 starts, Wheeler completed at least six innings. And for the 16th time, he allowed no more than two runs.

The Phillies grabbed the lead in a three-batter span of the fourth inning against Sox starter Walker Buehler. It began with Bryce Harper, who split the gap in right-center for a one-out double and scored on Nick Castellanos’ single. Castellanos stole second and scored on a single from J.T. Realmuto.