BOSTON (AP) — Jackson Merrill hit a three-run homer and Kyle Higashioka added a two-run shot in a nine-run fifth inning, leading the San Diego Padres to a 9-2 win over the Boston Red Sox on Friday night.
“That was the most dope moment ever,” said Merrill, who grew up a Red Sox fan and was playing his first game at Fenway Park. “I don’t usually like to talk about what I do. I like to talk about the wins, but that was probably the dopest moment. I’ve watched so many games here, growing up a big Red Sox fan, to come in and hit a homer, that’s an unreal feeling."
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BOSTON (AP) — Jackson Merrill hit a three-run homer and Kyle Higashioka added a two-run shot in a nine-run fifth inning, leading the San Diego Padres to a 9-2 win over the Boston Red Sox on Friday night.
Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Greg Weissert (57) reacts after giving up a three-run home run to San Diego Padres' Jackson Merrill, second from left, during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 28. 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Boston Red Sox's Rafael Devers, right, watches his solo home run in front of San Diego Padres catcher Kyle Higashioka, center, during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 28. 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
San Diego Padres starting pitcher Randy Vásquez, center, holds his arm between teammates catcher Kyle Higashioka, second from left, and first baseman Luis Arraez (4) after deflecting the line-drive single by Boston Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 28. 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers, left, throws to first base on a single by Manny Machado during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 28. 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
San Diego Padres' Donovan Solano runs on his two-run RBI single during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, June 28. 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
San Diego Padres closer Yuki Matsui throws during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, June 28. 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
San Diego Padres closer Yuki Matsui throws during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, June 28. 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
San Diego Padres' Jackson Merrill (3) celebrates after his three-run home run with Jurickson Profar, right, during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, June 28. 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
San Diego Padres' Jackson Merrill, front right, follows through on his three-run home run in front of Boston Red Sox catcher Connor Wong during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 28. 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
The Padres sent 13 batters to the plate in the fifth, with nine scoring on eight hits and two walks. The first nine batters reached base safely. Every batter in the Padres starting lineup had at least one hit and scored a run.
The nine runs scored matches the most in an inning for the Padres this season. They also scored nine runs in the eighth inning on May 31 against the Kansas City Royals. The nine runs allowed surpassed Boston’s previous season high of seven runs scored by the Toronto Blue Jays in the third inning on Tuesday.
“A lot going on,” Padres manager Mike Schildt said of the fifth inning. “We talk about, you can never have enough runs. So, we stay hungry to get more. We want to continue to add on as much as possible all the time.”
After Nick Pivetta (4-5) gave up four hits — including Higashioka’s ninth homer of the season — and a walk to open the fifth, he was replaced by Greg Weissert, who gave up four straight hits including two-run singles to Jake Cronenworth and Donovan Solano and Merrill’s 11th homer of the season.
“The sweeper didn’t perform in that inning,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said of Pivetta’s pitch. “Just wasn’t able to execute and everything happened so fast. I’m usually not that aggressive bringing in the bullpen, but I wanted to give them a different look with the lefty there. It was still early in the game.”
Pivetta called his outing "dissatisfying.”
“I was hanging pitches in the middle of the zone and they took advantage of it because they’re a good baseball team," he said.
Right-hander Randy Vásquez started for the Padres and went four-plus innings, giving up one run on five hits and a walk with one strikeout. He was replaced by Wandy Peralta after Ceddanne Rafaela’s comebacker hit him on his pitching arm and he suffered a forearm contusion.
“Thankfully, X-rays negative, no fracture or anything. Got him in the forearm pretty good,” Schildt said. “That was a shame because this guy was pitching really well.”
Right-hander Stephen Kolek (2-0) threw two scoreless innings, giving up a hit with two strikeouts.
Connor Wong’s two-out single scored Wilyer Abreu from second base in the fourth to give Boston a 1-0 lead. Rafael Devers hit his 17th home run of the season in the sixth.
Xander Bogaerts, who won two World Series titles in his 10 seasons in Boston, received a standing ovation from the Fenway crowd after the Red Sox showed a video tribute before the second inning. It was his first time back since signing with the Padres as a free agent in December 2022.
ROSTER MOVES
The Red Sox reinstated C Connor Wong from the paternity list and called up LHP Bailey Horn from Triple-A Worcester. C Tyler Heineman and RHP Isaiah Campbell were optioned to Worcester on Thursday.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Padres: LHP Tom Cosgrove was placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to June 27, with left elbow inflammation. LHP Austin Davis was called up from Triple-A El Paso to take his spot on the roster. … RHP Joe Musgrove, out since May 29 with right elbow inflammation, was transferred from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox and Padres continue their three-game series on Saturday. RHP Tanner Houck (7-5, 2.18 ERA) is scheduled to start for Boston, opposed by RHP Michael King (5-5, 3.75).
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
San Diego Padres' Kyle Higashioka right, celebrates his two-run home run that scored Ha-Seong Kim, left, in front of Boston Red Sox catcher Connor Wong during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, June 28. 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Greg Weissert (57) reacts after giving up a three-run home run to San Diego Padres' Jackson Merrill, second from left, during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 28. 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Boston Red Sox's Rafael Devers, right, watches his solo home run in front of San Diego Padres catcher Kyle Higashioka, center, during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 28. 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
San Diego Padres starting pitcher Randy Vásquez, center, holds his arm between teammates catcher Kyle Higashioka, second from left, and first baseman Luis Arraez (4) after deflecting the line-drive single by Boston Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 28. 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers, left, throws to first base on a single by Manny Machado during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 28. 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
San Diego Padres' Donovan Solano runs on his two-run RBI single during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, June 28. 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
San Diego Padres closer Yuki Matsui throws during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, June 28. 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
San Diego Padres closer Yuki Matsui throws during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, June 28. 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
San Diego Padres' Jackson Merrill (3) celebrates after his three-run home run with Jurickson Profar, right, during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, June 28. 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
San Diego Padres' Jackson Merrill, front right, follows through on his three-run home run in front of Boston Red Sox catcher Connor Wong during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 28. 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
DEDHAM, Mass. (AP) — Jurors in the Karen Read trial returned to deliberations Monday after telling the judge Friday that they couldn’t agree on a verdict, only to be told to keep trying.
The jury must decide whether prosecutors have proven that Read drunkenly and intentionally slammed into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her Lexus SUV and left him to die. The defense challenged the evidence and suggested that one or more law enforcement colleagues killed John O’Keefe, dumped his body outside in a panic, and then framed Read to cover it up.
On their fourth day of deliberations in the two-month murder trial, a foreperson told the judge that they hadn’t reached a unanimous verdict despite an “exhaustive review of the evidence and our diligent consideration of all disputed evidence.
But Judge Beverly Cannone told the six men and six women to take lunch and try again, and they did for several more hours. “Clear your heads; we’ll start fresh on Monday,” Cannone told them later Friday.
Read, 44, had worked as an equity analyst and was an adjunct lecturer in finance at her alma mater, Bentley University. O’Keefe, 46, was a 16-year veteran of the Boston Police Department who was raising his niece and nephew.
Jurors are deliberating events that unfolded at the Canton home of Brian Albert, a Boston police detective, after a night of barhopping in January 2022. Brian Higgins, a federal agent who was among those gathered inside, had exchanged flirtatious texts with Read earlier that month. The lead investigator was State Trooper Michael Proctor, who was friends with several witnesses and sent offensive texts about Read to friends, family and fellow troopers during the investigation.
Read was charged with second-degree murder, punishable in Massachusetts by life in prison with the possibility of parole. She also faces lesser charges of manslaughter while operating a vehicle under the influence, punishable by five to 20 years, and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, punishable by up to 10 years.
Pieces of Read’s broken taillight were found at the scene, and a single hair from O’Keefe was found on the rear bumper of Read’s SUV. Prosecutors say that Read repeatedly said, “I hit him. I hit him. Oh my God, I hit him,” to first responders and others. Prosecutors replayed angry voicemails Read left for O’Keefe, painting a picture of a failing relationship. They also questioned her behavior, saying she never cried after O’Keefe’s body was found.
Read contends that the prosecution’s case is based on lies by officers trying to protect themselves. Her lawyers say the pieces of taillight and the hair were planted at the crime scene, which was left unsecured. They also suggested that O’Keefe might have been beaten up by Higgins, who had flirted with Read through texts, and that the men panicked, dumping his body outside before trying to cover up the crime.
Regardless of any verdict, the case revealed questionable techniques and actions on the part of law enforcement. Proctor, who had personal relationships with several of the people involved, called Read a “whack job” and texted his sister saying he wished Read would “kill herself.” He said that was a figure of speech and that his emotions had gotten the better of him.
The defense also pointed to sloppy policing: The crime scene was left unsecured for hours; the house wasn’t searched; bloodstained snow was scooped up with red plastic drinking cups; and a leaf blower was used to clear snow. The defense also claims that a prosecution witness conducted an incriminating internet search hours before O’Keefe’s body was discovered and then deleted it, and that others linked with the case destroyed phones and manipulated videos.
A handful of women with posters showed up Friday to counter the self-proclaimed “sidewalk jury” of true crime bloggers and pink-shirted Read supporters, many of them waving the Stars and Stripes, who have gathered outside the Norfolk County courthouse every day since the trial began.
Police officers stood between the two groups, neither of which was particularly pleased.
“A hung jury, that would be terrible,” said Paul Harvey, who owns a moving company in East Boston. He said Read should have been acquitted on the first day.
“This is unbelievable; the poor woman has been framed,” said Michael Ward. “This not only hasn’t been proven, but what’s been proven is she’s innocent.”
Demonstrators on the other side called out what they said has been harassment of the O’Keefe family and prosecution witnesses.
“Every day, these witnesses are getting death threats. It is just disgusting to John’s memory,” said Julie Guinto, an administrative assistant who said she doesn’t know the family.
Much of the attention has been fed by social media, with supporters on both sides routinely trading barbs over the evidence, the lawyers and details from the trial.
“We know, as well as I’m sure the jury knows, that all roads lead to Karen Read,” said Kate Peter, a YouTuber from North Attleborough. She’s been battling online against Aidan Timothy Kearney, aka Turtleboy, whose website has relentlessly questioned the prosecution.
“I am hopeful and faithful they will reach a just verdict and she will be held criminally responsible for her actions in this murder,” Peter said.
Canton, a solidly middle-class commuter town of 20,000, is best known for the Paul Revere Heritage Site — 9 acres where Revere set up a mill in 1801 to roll the copper that covered the hulls of the newly formed Navy’s boats and the dome of the Massachusetts State House in Boston.
These days, tourists are as likely to pass through the town in search of places associated with Read’s trial.
There are the bars where she and O’Keefe had been drinking that night, including the Waterfall Bar & Grille and C.F. McCarthy’s, just down the street. On the same stretch of downtown is a tattered shop called D&E Pizza & Subs, which got a mention at the trial partly because it was run by Chris Albert, the brother of Boston police detective Brian Albert, who owned the house where O’Keefe’s body was found. Albert sold that house, and the new owners put up a no-trespassing sign to keep onlookers out.
Read’s supporters have turned normally sleepy town meetings into raucous affairs, trying to push out the police chief and supporting an ongoing audit of the department. They blame the police department, which recused itself from the Read investigation, for bungling it. To counter that, lawn signs have popped up declaring support for the police.
Karen Read stands as jurors depart the court for the weekend at the trial of Read at Norfolk Superior Court, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool)
Karen Read, center, arrives at Norfolk Superior Court, Monday, July 1, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. The jury began deliberations in the trial Tuesday, June 25. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Karen Read, center, arrives at Norfolk Superior Court, Monday, July 1, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. The jury began deliberations in the trial Tuesday, June 25. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Jean Allan, of Weymouth, Mass., front, a supporter of Karen Read, displays a sign to passing cars near Norfolk Superior Court, Monday, July 1, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. The jury began deliberations in the trial Tuesday, June 25. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
An empty flagpole is seen outside the residence where the body of John O'Keefe, a Boston police officer, was found on Jan. 29, 2022, outside the home, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Canton, Mass. The fate of Karen Read, who is charged with second-degree murder in the death is in the hands of a jury currently deliberating her case. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Prosecutor Adam Lally gives his closing arguments on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, during Karen Read's murder trial at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass. (Nancy Lane/The Boston Herald via AP, Pool)
All stand as the jury files out to the courtroom, to start their fifth day of deliberations in the murder trial for Karen Read in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Monday, July 1, 2024. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)
Karen Read, center, arrives at Norfolk Superior Court, Monday, July 1, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. The jury began deliberations in the trial Tuesday, June 25. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Judge Beverly J. Cannone greets jurors in Norfolk Superior Court, on their fifth day of deliberations in the murder trial for Karen Read in Dedham, Mass., Monday, July 1, 2024. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)
This photo undated photo released by the Boston Police Department shows officer John O'Keefe. (Boston Police Department via AP)
Karen Read looks toward the jurors, as they are greeted by Judge Beverly J. Cannone at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Monday, July 1, 2024. This is their fifth day of deliberations in the murder trial for Read. Read is accused of backing her SUV into her Boston Police officer boyfriend, John O'Keefe, and leaving him to die in a blizzard in Canton, in 2022. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)
A half-dozen people supporting the O'Keefe family heckled Karen Read supporters and called for her conviction in her murder trial, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, was charged with second-degree murder after being accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (AP Photos/Michael Casey)
Defense attorney David Yannetti, standing, addresses the court as Karen Read, at left, listens after jurors stated they could not reach a unanimous verdict during Read's trial at Norfolk Superior Court, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, was charged with second-degree murder after being accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool)
A half-dozen people supporting the O'Keefe family heckled Karen Read supporters and called for her conviction in her murder trial, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, was charged with second-degree murder after being accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (AP Photos/Michael Casey)
A half-dozen people supporting the O'Keefe family heckled Karen Read supporters and called for her conviction in her murder trial, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, was charged with second-degree murder after being accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (AP Photos/Michael Casey)
Karen Read listens as judge Beverly Cannone reads a note from jurors, which stated they could not reach a unanimous verdict, during Read's trial at Norfolk Superior Court, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, was charged with second-degree murder after being accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool)
Karen Read stands as jurors depart the court to continue with deliberations at the trial of Read at Norfolk Superior Court, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool)
Judge Beverly Cannone addresses the jury before deliberations continue in the trial of Karen Read at Norfolk Superior Court, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool)
Karen Read watches as jurors are seated in court to continue with deliberations at the trial of Read at Norfolk Superior Court, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool)
Karen Read, left, arrives with her defense team, including Elizabeth Little at right, at Norfolk Superior Court, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. A jury is deliberating Read's fate, as her trial is nearing its end. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Supporters of Karen Read gather near Norfolk Superior Court, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. A jury is deliberating Read's fate, as her trial is nearing its end. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Supporters of Karen Read gather near Norfolk Superior Court, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. A jury is deliberating Read's fate, as her trial is nearing its end. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Karen Read watches as jurors are seated in court to continue with deliberations at the trial of Read at Norfolk Superior Court, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool)
Jennifer O'Donnell, of Canton, Mass., right, a supporter of Karen Read, displays a placard while standing with other Read supporters near Norfolk Superior Court, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. The jury began deliberations in the trial Tuesday. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Karen Read speaks with her attorney, Alan Jackson as the jury leaves the courtroom to start their third day of deliberations, in her murder trial, in Norfolk Superior Court on Thursday, June 27, 2024 in Dedham, Mass. Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)
Karen Read listens as Judge Beverly J. Cannone greets the jury, at the start of the third day of deliberations in her murder trial, in Norfolk Superior Court on Thursday, June 27, 2024 in Dedham, Mass. Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)
Supporters of Karen Read display signs to passing cars near Norfolk Superior Court, Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. The jury began deliberations in the trial Tuesday. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Karen Read speaks with her lawyer as the jury deliberates in her murder trail, Wednesday June 26, 2024, at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass. Read is charged with second-degree murder in the January 2022 death of her boyfriend Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool)
Karen Read speaks with her lawyer as the jury deliberates in her murder trail, Wednesday June 26, 2024, at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass. Read is charged with second-degree murder in the January 2022 death of her boyfriend Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool)
Karen Read watches as the jury enters the courtroom for the start of the second day of deliberation at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Wednesday June 26, 2024. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP)
Karen Read, center, walks toward Norfolk Superior Court, Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. The jury began deliberations in the trial Tuesday. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Judge Beverly Cannone looks over the verdict slip the jurors have to fill out when they reach a verdict in Karen Read's murder trail, Wednesday June 26, 2024, at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass. The defense has asked for some modifications. Read is charged with second-degree murder in the January 2022 death of her boyfriend Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool)
Supporters of Karen Read display signs near Norfolk Superior Court, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. The jury began deliberations in the trial Tuesday. (AP Photo/Nick Perry)
Karen Read, center, departs Norfolk Superior Court, Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in Dedham, Mass.(AP Photo/Steven Senne)
