Ortiz hits career homer No. 497; Red Sox beat Phillies 6-2

BOSTON —  Rookie left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez is certainly making a strong case to be a part of Boston’s rotation next season.

The 22-year-old got a 2-0 lead thanks to David’s Ortiz’s 497th career home run and held Philadelphia to one run over seven innings as the Red Sox completed a three-game sweep with a 6-2 win over the Phillies on Sunday.

“I would say he has — nine wins,” Red Sox interim manager Torey Lovullo said when asked if he’s making a push to be a part of next year’s starters.

It was Rodriguez’s third win in four starts.

“What’s not to say about the run he’s on,” Lovullo said. “He controlled the pitch counts, a great game.”

“I just want to keep working to stay here next season,” said Rodriguez (9-5). He gave up eight hits, striking out seven and walking one.

A day after he posted his club-record ninth season with 30 homers, Ortiz stepped up in his first at-bat and sent a 3-1 fastball from rookie right-hander Jerad Eickhoff (1-3) over the Phillies’ bullpen to give Boston a 2-0 edge.

“It went about as far as I’ve seen a ball go this season,” Lovullo said. “A beautiful swing, typical David.”

It was Big Papi’s 200th career homer in Fenway Park. The 39-year-old slugger is looking to become the 27th player to reach the 500-homer mark.

Jackie Bradley Jr. added a two-run triple for Boston, which beat the Phillies for the 10th time in the last 12 meetings in Fenway.

It was the seventh win in 10 games for the Red Sox.

Odubel Herrera had three singles and drove in a run for Philadelphia, which is 1-11-2 in its last 14 series against Boston.

The Phillies (53-84), who own the majors’ worst record, lost for the 10th time in 13 games. They went 1-5 on a six-game road trip.

“Nobody wants to end up in last place,” Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. “We need to do some damage (against the Braves) and then the Cubs. We need to forget this road trip and start over.”

Ortiz barely missed hitting another one in his second at-bat, sending a sacrifice fly to the center-field warning track in Boston’s four-run second. He left for a pinch hitter in the fifth because of right calf tightness.

Lovullo said the club was “trying to stay ahead” of Ortiz’s calf issue.

Making his fourth major league start, Eickhoff gave up six runs on eight hits in four innings.

“I got back to what makes me good as pitcher — locating my fastball,” he said.

Bradley Jr. tripled in the second and scored on Mookie Betts’ single.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Phillies: C Cameron Rupp missed his second straight game after he was hit by a pitch on the arm Friday night.

Red Sox: 3B Pablo Sandoval missed his third straight because of back tightness. Lovullo said he’s probable for Monday.

WHAT A GRAB

Betts robbed Darin Ruf of a homer in the fourth, running from center and leaping to grab it with his glove over the edge of the side wall at Boston’s bullpen.

“I do take great pride in playing good defense because defense is effort,” Betts said.

Rodriguez raised both arms after the grab. After the game, he said he thought it was a homer.

THREE TOUGH DAYS

The Phillies started three rookie pitchers that gave up a combined 19 runs in 14 innings.

SWEPT AWAY

It was Boston’s second home sweep of a three-game series this season, the other was against Oakland in June.

The Phillies were swept for the 11th time this season.

UP NEXT

Phillies: RHP Aaron Harang (5-14) is scheduled to face Atlanta RHP Williams Perez (4-6) in the opener of a three-game series Monday in Philadelphia. Harang is 1-11 in his last 15 starts.

Red Sox: RHP Rick Porcello (6-12) looks for his third straight solid start when they face LHP Mark Buehrle (14-6) and the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays Monday. Porcello has given up just one run in 15 innings over two starts since he came off the disabled list.

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