GAME RECAP: Atlanta Braves Add to Red Sox Woes, 4-2
Jun 15, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Atlanta Braves shortstop
Andrelton Simmons(19) turns a double play as Boston Red Sox center fielder
Mookie Betts(50) slides during the third inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Small ball broke through again Monday evening as the Braves’ bullpen prevailed – despite some shakiness early and late – with Atlanta sending the reeling BoSox to their seventh straight loss, 4-2.
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This just in: Williams Perez has been pretty darn good for Atlanta. Tonight he went six innings, scattering 5 hits and 2 walks to lower his ERA to 2.29. There was a question about just how far he might be able to go tonight, given his 1 inning of relief pitching on Saturday, but that really wasn’t much of an issue. The team did limit him to 79 pitches, but his control was still sharp enough (47 strikes and just the 2 walks)… though 3 double plays in the first three innings didn’t hurt a bit.
It was Perez’ sixth inning that he was finally challenged a bit, though both walks made the challenge, and probably led to his replacement after the inning. Still, the Red Sox didn’t exactly help themselves as Mookie Betts got himself picked off after a lead-off single.
The field was wet and the rain continued to threaten, but the game started on time with no delays.
The Scoring
The Braves were energized – I guess – by a Freddie Freeman steal in the 4th. At that point, Nick Markakis singled him home.
Juan Uribe followed with another single and then Kelly Johnson flied out for the second out of the inning… though still moving Markakis to third base, which turned out to be important given the Rick Porcello wild pitch that followed. That plated the second Braves run.
A.J. Pierzynski – presumably sober – then punched a single into right field to score Uribe to give Atlanta a 3-0 lead.
Boston starter Rick Porcello pitched into the seventh, but was charged with a fourth run after a Kelly Johnson single, wild pitch, fly out, a walk to Jonny Gomes, and hit batter to load the bases with one out. Robbie Ross was brought in, but a Jace Peterson single brought in that fourth run. Unfortunately, Cameron Maybin – struggling lately – ended the threat by grounding into a double play.
Dana Eveland marked his return to Boston… or rather his first trip, actually… since the Red Sox didn’t actually want him in Boston, so that’s why Atlanta has him. But after striking out David Ortiz, Xander Bogaerts pounded a homer to center. Pablo Sandoval followed with a double, and that was enough for Fredi. Nick Masset came in and finished off the inning without much further fuss.
Finishing Up… With Difficulty
Jim Johnson took care of the 8th inning with nothing further than a seeing-eye single… setting the stage for Jason Grilli to hold the 4-1 lead in the ninth.
A long fly out to the Monster by Ortiz, an easy soft liner to second base, and then Sandoval drilled a ground rule double to center field… very deep, but in the safest part of the ballpark – the CF triangle. Then it got really scary.
Mike Napoli drilled a sharp grounder to Andrelton Simmons, but he threw it into the dirt for an E6, putting runners on the corners with the tying run (Betts) at the plate. He took a 1-2 count into a full count (Grilli’s fault more than Betts’ prowess, frankly), and stroked a single to center. Now 4-2 Atlanta with runners on the corners again.
Grilli got the count to two strikes for the third straight batter (Alejandro De Aza). But finally, he got a weak grounder to the mound and everybody in the South got to breathe again.
The Braves (31-33) had 9 hits on the evening and the Red Sox 10. But with better defense…mostly… and situational hitting, the visitors prevailed in the first game of this oddball 2-and-2 home-and-home interleague series… way too complicated a statement for something that should be scheduled another way.