Red Sox reactions: Ceddanne Rafaela’s first career pinch-hit homer leads Boston over Phillies

BOSTON — Instant reactions from the Red Sox' 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday:

1. The Red Sox improved to 18-24 while the Phillies dropped to 20-23. Boston now is 8-13 at Fenway Park and 13-20 when facing a right-handed starter.

2. Interim manager Chad Tracy didn’t start Ceddanne Rafaela because he wanted to get the left-handed bats of both Mickey Gasper and Masataka Yoshida in the lineup against Phillies right-handed starter Andrew Painter. But Tracy said before the game, “You’ll probably see him (Rafaela) late.”

Tracy used Rafaela as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning with lefty reliever Tanner Banks on the mound and the game tied 1-1. The Phillies countered, bringing in righty Orion Kerkering to face Rafaela. Rafaela crushed a 96.8 mph fastball from Kerkering for a two-run home run into the Monster Seats. It put Boston ahead 3-1.

3. It marked Rafaela’s first career pinch-hit home run. Rafaela is 3 for 10 with one homer, one double, four RBIs and four strikeouts in his career as a pinch hitter.

4. Red Sox starter Sonny Gray pitched six innings, allowing one run, two hits and one walk while striking out six. He threw 78 pitches, 68% for strikes. He recorded 11 swings and misses, including four with his curveball.

5. homered for the first time since April 15. It was just his third home run of the season and put Boston ahead 1-0 in the second inning. Story connected on a 95 mph sinker from Phillies right-handed starter Andrew Painter and sent it 424 feet over the Green Monster.