Red Sox stun Phillies 9-8 on July 24, 2025! Romy Gonzalez's grand slam and Carlos Narváez's 11th-inning HR cap an epic comeback from a 5-0 deficit.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Some games you just have to see to believe. Wednesday night in Philadelphia was one of them. Down 5-0 and being no-hit into the fifth inning, the Red Sox looked dead in the water. But in a stunning display of resilience and opportunistic power, Boston clawed its way back to steal a wild 9-8 victory in 11 innings, capped by a dramatic two-run blast from Carlos Narváez that sent the Phillies faithful home in disbelief.
We never gave up, even down five runs. That’s the kind of fight we need.
For four innings, it was all Philadelphia. But baseball is a funny game. Masataka Yoshida finally broke up the no-hitter with a leadoff double in the fifth, and then the floodgates opened thanks to a gift from Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto. His dropped popup, a routine play, loaded the bases and changed everything. The Red Sox pounced on the mistake, and Romy Gonzalez delivered the biggest blow of all: a towering grand slam, his first of the season, that capped a six-run rally and suddenly gave Boston the lead. It was a complete momentum shift fueled by one costly mistake.
The Phillies didn't go quietly. Their lineup flexed its muscle all night, launching five home runs, including Bryce Harper's milestone 350th career blast. Kyle Schwarber, Nick Castellanos, Bryson Stott, and J.T. Realmuto also went deep, turning the game into a back-and-forth slugfest. But the Red Sox bullpen bent without breaking. Greg Weissert battled to earn the win, and in the top of the 11th, Carlos Narváez stepped up against Seth Johnson and delivered the final, decisive blow—a two-run homer that silenced the crowd. Brennan Bernardino then came on to lock down his first save, ending the marathon thriller. 'I just wanted to help the team win,' Narváez said postgame. 'That was a special moment.'
This incredible win is even more impressive given the state of the pitching staff. While the offense carried the day, concerns remain on the mound. The latest news confirmed that Tanner Houck won't be back from his right flexor pronator strain until August at the earliest. Manager Alex Cora noted Houck is still sore, though surgery isn't required. Justin Slaten is also looking at an August or September return. There is some good news, however, as reliever Zack Kelly is nearing a return from his oblique strain and is scheduled for another live bullpen session. This win was a testament to the team's depth and fight, but getting key arms like Houck and Kelly back will be crucial for the stretch run.
What a night. This is the kind of win that can define a stretch of the season—a pure gut-check victory built on fight and timely hitting. As the team celebrates this one, they'll turn their attention to the next contest with Brayan Bello scheduled to take the mound. With the pitching staff still banged up, the Sox will need to carry this offensive momentum and gritty attitude forward if they want to keep stacking wins.
