Bogaerts, Masterson Lead Red Sox Over Phillies

Extra work in the batting cage paid off for Xander Bogaerts.

Bogaerts had three hits and three RBIs to back Justin Masterson, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-2 Thursday night.

"It's looking like the extra work he's doing is giving him some traction," Red Sox manager John Farrell said of Bogaerts. "He's a little bit more balanced, a little more patient, trying to get a pitch he can handle."

Masterson (1-0) allowed two runs and three hits in six innings, striking out seven in his first start for the Red Sox since 2009. He also had a career-best two hits and an RBI.

"It not skill, it's just luck," Masterson said of the hits.

The Red Sox won two of three in the interleague series and will move on to Yankee Stadium to face their AL East rivals.

Phillies righty David Buchanan (0-1) struggled, giving up six runs and seven hits in three innings. He didn't allow more than three earned runs in his last 16 starts as a rookie in 2014.

"I'll shake it off," he said.

Buchanan retired the first two batters in the third before finding trouble. Infield singles by David Ortiz and Hanley Ramirez and a walk to Pablo Sandoval loaded the bases. Shane Victorino followed with another infield hit to third to drive in a run. Ryan Hanigan walked on four pitches to force in another run.

Bogaerts then looped a 3-2 pitch just inside the right-field foul line for a bases-clearing triple as the ball took a strange hop and trickled away from right fielder Jeff Francoeur. Masterson lined a single up the middle to make it 6-0.

Bogaerts has been spending more time with hitting coach Chili Davis and assistant hitting coach Victor Rodriguez.

"The more patient you are, the better," he said. "Timing has been a problem for me, but it's simple: See the ball, hit the ball."

The Phillies cut it to 6-2 with a pair of two-out runs in the bottom half. Freddy Galvis scored on a wild pitch after reaching on an infield single and Chase Utley had an RBI single.

Masterson, who was drafted by Boston in 2006, was traded to Cleveland six years ago. The right-hander signed a $9.5 million, one-year deal to return to the Red Sox after going 7-9 with a 5.88 ERA for the Indians and St. Louis last year.

"When his sinker is on, it has such depth and such unpredictability to hitters," Farrell said.

The teams wore retro 1915 caps. The Red Sox beat the Phillies in the World Series that season.