Both the Red Sox and Phillies got off on the wrong foot this season and plummeted to the bottom of their divisions. Both front offices decided that it was not too early for a major move and decided a manager change was necessary. Boston passed the keys from Alex Cora to Chad Tracy while in Philadelphia Don Mattingly assumed the reins after Rob Thomson was dismissed. In each instance the ship appears to have been righted—at least for now—and choppy waters have turned more placid.
Sonny Gray and a flawless bullpen worked together to give the Red Sox a shutout victory over the Tigers in Detroit on Wednesday night to complete a four-game sweep. Tracy has piloted the team to seven wins over his first 10 tries and in the process created a vibe shift. In Philadelphia the Phillies scored four runs in the eighth inning to author a comeback triumph over the Athletics, running Mattingly's record since the switch to 8-1.
