Marcel Ozuna lined a single up the middle to score the go-ahead run in the eighth inning as the Atlanta Braves beat the visiting Boston Red Sox 4-2 on Tuesday to end a three-game losing streak.
The Braves, who had scored only 20 runs over their previous eight games, added an insurance run in the eighth on Orlando Arcia’s infield grounder.
The winning pitcher was Joe Jimenez (1-0), who pitched a scoreless eighth inning. Raisel Iglesias pitched a perfect ninth to earn his ninth save. Justin Slaten (2-1) took the loss.
It was a frustrating night for the Boston offense. The Red Sox had eight hits and drew six walks but went 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position and stranded 13 baserunners.
Neither starter was around for the decision.
Atlanta’s Reynaldo Lopez pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed two runs, one earned, on six hits with a season-high four walks and five strikeouts.
Boston’s Kutter Crawford worked six innings and yielded two runs on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts. It was the fourth consecutive start in which he pitched at least six innings.
The Braves broke through for two runs in the third inning when Jarred Kelenic hit his first homer of the season to end an 0-for-11 streak. It was Kelenic’s first home run since he went deep on June 9, 2023, against Shohei Ohtani, then of the Los Angeles Angels.
The Red Sox tied the game at 2-2 after an error by shortstop Arcia created an opportunity. Boston scored when Reese McGuire walked with the bases loaded to chase Lopez, then plated the tying run on Ceddanne Rafaela’s infield grounder that hit reliever Aaron Bummer on the right leg. Bummer struck out the next two batters with the bases loaded to end the threat.
Boston threatened in the eighth inning thanks to a throwing error by Jimenez and an intentional walk. Tyler O’Neill lined a ball into left field but was robbed by Adam Duvall’s sliding catch.
