Sep 5, 2018 4 min read

Brandon Phillips hit a two-out, two-run homer in the ninth inning Wednesday, highlighting his long-awaited season debut and capping the biggest comeback by the Boston Red Sox this year for a 9-8 win over the Atlanta Braves.

The Red Sox overcame a late six-run deficit and seesawed past Atlanta to sweep the three-game series between division leaders.

Boston, with the best record in the majors, scored six times in the eighth to make it 7-all. After Freddie Freeman hit a solo homer with two outs in the Braves eighth, the Red Sox bounced back for their 97th win this year.

The 37-year-old Phillips was called up from Triple-A Pawtucket Tuesday and given his first start at second base in the final game of the interleague set. After Andrew Bentinendi’s one-out single off A.J. Minter (4-3), Phillips hit the two-out homer deep into the left field seats.

Braves left fielder Ronald Acuna Jr., who hit another leadoff homer in the first, didn’t move as Phillips’ shot sailed over his head. Phillips scored three runs, drew two walks and made the most of his first hit with Boston.

National League

Miami 2, Philadelphia 1: Right-hander Sandy Alcantara pitched shutout ball into the eighth inning in his second career start, Austin Dean drove in a pair of runs and the Miami Marlins beat the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1.

Alcantara (2-0) allowed three hits, walked two and struck out six. His ERA, over 12 innings this season, dropped to 0.75.

The Phillies have lost four of five. They remained three games behind Atlanta in the NL East race, after the Braves wasted a 7-1 lead and lost 9-8 earlier Wednesday to the Boston Red Sox.

American League

Cleveland 3, Kansas City 1: Corey Kluber became the first 18-game winner in the majors this season, striking out 10 and pitching the Cleveland Indians past the Kansas City Royals 3-1.

The Indians moved closer to the third straight AL Central title and reduced their magic number for clinching the division to nine.

Kluber (18-7) allowed one run and two hits in 6 2/3 innings. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner was pulled after throwing 105 pitches.

Cleveland used three relievers to complete the two-hitter. Brad Hand struck out the side in the ninth for his eighth save since being acquired San Diego and 32nd this season.

Toronto 10, Tampa Bay 3: Aledmys Diaz hit a three-run homer in a seven-run first inning, Aaron Sanchez won for the first time in three months and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Tampa Bay Rays 10-3 to prevent a three-game sweep.

Billy McKinney added a solo homer as Toronto had 16 hits and improved to 3-9 against the Rays this season. Tampa Bay’s four-game winning streak was snapped.

Surgey for Ohtani?

Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani has new damage in his right elbow and the team says Tommy John surgery has been recommended.

The Angels said Ohtani had an MRI Wednesday in Texas that revealed the problem in his ulnar collateral ligament.

“There’s more questions out there right now than answers. We’ll take it one step at a time,” manager Mike Scioscia said. “There’s a lot of consulting that Shohei will do with doctors and just see what the best course of action is, and we’ll see where we are.”

Ohtani had been scheduled to throw a light bullpen session Wednesday, but never did after reporting that his elbow was sore. The medical staff then decided that he should get the new MRI.

The 24-year-old rookie was still in the Angels’ lineup as the designated hitter for their series finale against the Rangers. Asked whether Ohtani would stay in the lineup as a DH after this game, Scioscia said: “We’ll see. That’s going to be determined from our medical department.”

Ohtani was diagnosed with a sprained UCL following a start June 6 and was treated with a platelet-rich plasma injection and an injection of stem cells. He was hitting again in early July, and returned to the mound with his start Sunday at Houston.