Drew ignores boos, powers Red Sox past Phillies

[June 19, 2008]  PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- J.D. Drew tied a career-high with four hits and fell a triple short of the cycle, Justin Masterson pitched five effective innings and the Boston Red Sox beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-4 on Wednesday.

Booed each time he came up, as usual in Philly, Drew hit a three-run homer in the first inning, doubled in the third, had an RBI single in the fourth and singled in the sixth before tapping out in the eighth. He finished 4-for-5 with four RBIs.

Masterson (4-1) allowed two runs and four hits in the shortest of his six career starts. Jonathan Papelbon, the fourth Boston reliever, pitched a perfect ninth for his 21st save in 24 chances.

Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick (6-3) lasted just three innings, giving up six runs and six hits.

Mike Lowell had a solo homer for Boston, which took two of three in the interleague series between division leaders.

After winning the opener, some Phillies talked out loud about playing the defending champion Red Sox in the World Series. But they had a tough enough time against a depleted lineup.

Designated hitter David Ortiz (wrist) and first baseman Kevin Youkilis (back) missed the series. Left fielder Manny Ramirez sat out the final game to rest his sore hamstring and center fielder Coco Crisp left after feeling discomfort in his left hand following his first at-bat Wednesday.

Drew gave the Red Sox all the offense they'd need. He's been on a torrid streak since Ortiz was injured May 31. Drew is batting .441 (26-for-59) with nine homers and 21 RBIs in June.

After Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia led off the first with consecutive singles, Drew ripped an 0-1 pitch into the right-center field seats for a 3-0 lead. Lowell followed with a drive to left to make it 4-0.

The boos Drew heard when he walked to the plate only grew louder as he circled the bases. He's used to that treatment here. Drew has been vilified in Philadelphia since refusing to sign with the Phillies after they drafted him with the second overall pick in the 1997 amateur draft.

Eleven years later and now with his fourth different team, Drew still gets a rude welcome every visit. He had to dodge batteries thrown from the stands the first time he came to Philly with St. Louis in 1999.

The Red Sox went ahead 6-1 when pinch-hitter Brandon Moss, batting for Crisp, drove in two runs with a two-out single in the third.

Pinch-hitter Pedro Feliz's two-run single off reliever Craig Hansen in the seventh pulled the Phillies to 7-4. Manny Delcarmen came in and walked Jimmy Rollins to bring up the tying run. But he retired Shane Victorino on a popup, Chase Utley on a liner and struck out Ryan Howard.

Utley was 0-for-4, extending his hitless streak to 20 at-bats.

Notes: Drew had four hits in a game seven times before. ... Crisp is day to day. ... Hall of Fame pitcher Robin Roberts threw out the first pitch on the 60th anniversary of his major league debut with the Phillies. ... The Red Sox have hit back-to-back homers nine times this season, including twice this series. ... Boston is a major league-best 7-2 in interleague games. ... Rollins stole his 28th straight base without getting caught, dating last Aug. 31.

[Associated Press; By ROB MAADDI]

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.