PHILADELPHIA -- It seemed only fitting, the way Carlos Ruiz had been hitting of late, that the Phillies catcher would step to the plate in a big spot yet again on Friday.
Ruiz, who has been making a strong case to be the starting catcher in this summer's All-Star Game, came up with the bases loaded and just one out in the first inning. He took the first pitch he saw from Daniel Bard, a 79-mph slider, and lined it to center field to bring home two runs.
Ruiz's single sparked a four-run first inning that energized the announced 45,205 at Citizens Bank Park and helped the Phillies open Interleague Play with a 6-4 win against the Red Sox. It was the sixth consecutive win for the Phillies, who improved to 21-19.
Cole Hamels earned his team-leading sixth win after allowing three runs on six hits in seven innings. The win ties him with the Cardinals' Lance Lynn for most wins in the National League. The Phillies have now won each of the southpaw's last seven starts.
Bard, a converted reliever, was handed the loss after a wild outing in which he threw just 49 of his 94 pitches for strikes. He allowed five runs on three hits, issued five walks and hit two batters on his way to falling to 3-5 on the season.
Hamels set Boston (18-21) down in the seventh before handing a 5-3 lead over to Philadelphia's bullpen, which has been shaky in 2012. Chad Qualls, who has struggled of late, retired Dustin Pedroia before giving up a solo homer to Adrian Gonzalez to cut the deficit to one.
Left-hander Antonio Bastardo came in to face the pinch-hitting David Ortiz, who grounded out to first base. A solo shot from Freddy Galvis in the eighth gave the Phillies an insurance run that set the stage for Jonathan Papelbon, the first-year Phillies closer who spent 2005-11 in Boston.
Papelbon would allow a leadoff single, but he then retired the next three batters to notch his 12th save.
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