The Phillies have taken a 2-0 lead after three innings thanks to Dominic Brown's two-run shot in the second.
The first inning was exactly what one might expect from a matchup between two of the game's best starters. The Red Sox were able to put their bats on the ball--Jacoby Ellsbury even hit the ball hard, if directly at Ryan Howard--but couldn't get it past the Philadelphia fielders, and went down on just five total pitches. It took Josh Beckett twice as many tosses, but he recorded three quick outs in the bottom half all-the-same.
The top of the second saw the first baserunner of the game, as Kevin Youkilis drew a four-pitch walk to lead off the frame, but as has been the trend in recent days, Darnell McDonald, Jason Varitek, and Mike Cameron could not so much as move him to second, going down on nine total pitches with both outfielders striking out.
Beckett would not be nearly so impressive, however. After giving up a leadoff single to Ryan Howard down the line in left, Beckett picked up two outs and seemed poised to escape the inning without being hurt. Unfortunately, though, a 2-2 fast ball came back over the plate, and Dominic Brown did not miss it, slamming a home run to center to put the Phillies on the board.
The Sox went down in order again in the third despite a line drive off the bat of Josh Beckett, leaving Boston without a hit through the first third of the game.