After Mayer’s injury, the Red Sox recalled infielder David Hamilton, and though Hamilton will see some time at second, Rafaela’s offense has been too valuable to the lineup. Playing him at second and Duran in center makes the offense stronger. The moving parts have been a challenge for manager Alex Cora much of the season and even more so now.

Boston had chances all night long, at least one baserunner in nine of 10 innings, but their clutch factor was M.I.A. and in the bottom of the 10th, it was the Phillies who triumphed, albeit in one of the most bizarre endings baseball has seen in a long time: A walk-off on bases-loaded catcher’s interference, determined on a replay review.