Red Sox lose 3-2 to the Phillies on July 22, 2025, after a historic walk-off catcher's interference call against Carlos Narvaez. See how the bizarre ending unfolded.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
You can watch baseball for a lifetime and never see what happened in Philadelphia last night. In a gut-wrenching 3-2 loss to the Phillies, the Red Sox found a new, historically bizarre way to lose a ballgame: a walk-off on catcher's interference. The stunning 10th-inning conclusion wasted a strong pitching performance and sent Boston to its 48th loss of the season in the most unbelievable fashion imaginable.
The first MLB walk-off due to catcher's interference since 1971.
The stage was set for a classic extra-innings showdown. With the automatic runner on second, Jordan Hicks entered for the Red Sox and immediately lost control, loading the bases with no outs. Then came the moment that will be replayed for years. Phillies batter Edmundo Sosa offered a check swing, and his bat clipped the glove of catcher Carlos Narvaez. After a lengthy review, the umpires overturned the initial call on the field, ruling it was indeed catcher's interference. Brandon Marsh trotted home from third, and the game was over, just like that. Hicks was saddled with the loss (1-6) without recording a single out, a frustrating end to a tense night.
The heartbreaking finish overshadowed what was otherwise a solid effort from the Red Sox. Walker Buehler was magnificent, going seven strong innings while allowing only one earned run and keeping the potent Phillies lineup in check. The offense provided just enough to stay in it, starting with a bang as Jarren Duran launched his ninth homer of the year to lead off the game. After falling behind 2-1, Trevor Story came through with a clutch RBI single in the sixth to tie it up. But against Phillies ace Zack Wheeler, who fanned 10 batters, the Sox bats couldn't muster anything more, leaving the door open for the late-game chaos.
The loss drops the Red Sox to 54-48, keeping them in third place in the AL East, now six games behind the division-leading Blue Jays. With a tough 22-28 record on the road, games like these sting even more. The need for pitching depth is glaring, and the latest injury updates offer mixed news. While Zack Kelly's return from an oblique strain seems imminent, Tanner Houck is still weeks away from rejoining the rotation, and Justin Slaten is only just beginning to play catch. The team will have to continue to rely on its current arms to navigate a tough stretch.
The Red Sox need to have a short memory and flush this bizarre loss quickly. Facing the Phillies again tomorrow, the team has to find a way to win on the road and keep pace in a tight AL East. With the trade deadline looming and the pitching staff still banged up, every game counts, and they can't afford to let a loss this strange derail their focus.
