Hernández leads off with homer, Red Sox beat Phillies 11-5

BOSTON (AP) — When Red Sox manager Alex Cora made Kiké Hernández his leadoff hitter, he had one goal in mind: “Instant offense."

"That’s what we’re looking for: For him to hunt fastballs and do damage,” Cora said on Friday night after Hernández led off Boston's first with a home run and sparked the Red Sox to an 11-5 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. “That’s what he’s been doing the last two homestands.”

Hernández’ homer was his fifth from the leadoff spot this season; only Kyle Schwarber (7) and José Altuve (6) have more. It was also his fifth homer in his last 12 games — four of them in the first inning.

“He's a tone-setter at the top of the lineup,” Red Sox starter Garrett Richards said. “And the rest of the lineup isn’t any easier. The boys are rolling right now.”

J.D. Martinez added a three-run shot in the second inning, his 18th of the season, and Rafael Devers hit his 22nd in the four-run fourth as the Red Sox bounced back from 1-0 and 3-2 deficits to pull away.

Richards (5-5) pitched five innings for his first victory in nine starts since May 19, allowing three runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out four. Returning home from a six-game California swing, Boston won its ninth straight at Fenway Park — its longest home winning streak in 10 years.

“For us to get to where we want to go, we have to make this place a home-field advantage again,” said Cora, whose team improved to 28-17 at home. “We have to play good here. We’ve been doing that.”

Vince Velasquez (3-4) lasted just 2 1/3 innings for the Phillies, his shortest start of the year. He allowed eight runs on six hits and four walks, striking out two but allowing three home runs.

“When he did throw strikes, he threw a lot of them over the...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Hern-ndez-leads-off-with-homer-Red-Sox-beat-16305425.php