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Red Sox rally past Braves to snap 10-game slide

May 26, 2014 - 11:43 PM Atlanta, GA (SportsNetwork.com) - Despite starter Clay Buchholz walking a career-high eight batters in three-plus innings, a five-run deficit through four innings and a one hour, 26 minute rain delay, the Boston Red Sox rallied to win their first game since May 14.

David Ortiz homered and drove in four, including the eventual game-winning run in the top of the seventh inning, to help the Red Sox snap a 10-game losing skid with an 8-6 win over the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field on Monday.

Buchholz was roughed up for six runs on four hits and eight walks, and the slumping Sox found themselves in a 6-1 hole. Ervin Santana couldn't make the 6-1 lead stand up, though.

"I know (Buchholz) didn't come out the way he always likes," Ortiz said. "We tried to stay together. We bounced back."

With two outs in the fifth, the Braves starter walked pinch-hitter Daniel Nava to keep the inning alive. Brock Holt doubled to right and Xander Bogaerts walked to load the bases. Dustin Pedroia cut the deficit to three with a two- run single to left and Ortiz tied it with a three-run shot to center, passing Dave Kingman for 39th on the all-time HR list in the process.

Then the rain came and forced a prolonged delay after the top of the sixth inning. Once play resumed, Edward Mujica (2-1) tossed a scoreless bottom of the sixth.

Ortiz gave Boston the lead a half inning later, plating Holt with a sacrifice fly to right. A.J. Pierzynski added an insurance run with an RBI single to center. Ian Thomas (1-2) allowed both runs to absorb the loss.

Koji Uehara pitched around a one-out single in the ninth to secure the win and his 10th save of the season.

"No game is over with that group over there," said B.J. Upton. "It stings a little bit, but we'll find a way to rebound tomorrow."

The 10-game slide was Boston's longest since 1994.

Grady Sizemore tripled to the wall in center in the third inning and scored on Jackie Bradley Jr.'s sac fly to right to give the Sox an early 1-0 margin.

Buchholz walked a pair in the first inning and one in the second, but kept Atlanta hitless and off the scoreboard. Three more walks in the third, however, led to three Atlanta runs.

Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman drew walks around a B.J. Upton strikeout, and Justin Upton plated them with a double to center. Chris Johnson then grounded deep in the hole and reached first as Bogaerts' throw was wide of Ortiz at first. Buchholz walked Andrelton Simmons on four pitches to load the bases.

Ramiro Pena whiffed for the second out, but Gerard Laird ripped a grounder off Buchholz's foot for an RBI infield single. Santana struck out looking to end the inning, but the Braves had a 3-1 lead.

Another walk -- Buchholz's seventh -- to Heyward led to a fourth Atlanta run, as B.J. Upton cranked an RBI two-bagger to the wall in left-center. Buchholz then lost Freeman on five pitches to end his forgettable outing.

Burke Badenhop allowed both of his inherited runners to score, serving up an RBI double to Justin Upton and single to Simmons before the inning ended on Laird's grounder back to the mound.

Holt was the lone Boston player with two hits, while he and Bogaerts both scored twice.

Heyward and Freeman both walked three times and scored two runs for Atlanta.

Game Notes

Ortiz did not register an RBI during Boston's losing skid ... Only two reigning World Series champs ('86 Royals, '98 Marlins) lost 11 straight games the following season ... Santana was charged with six runs on five hits in five innings of work ... Just prior to the first pitch, Freeman took a ball to the lower leg during warmups and required medical attention, but stayed in the game ... Atlanta had won six of eight.