Braves 0 - 4 Red Sox
Final
  for this game

Red Sox blank Braves; 2004 championship team honored

May 29, 2014 - 2:57 AM Boston, MA (SportsNetwork.com) - John Lackey pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning and the Boston Red Sox notched their season-high third straight victory, 4-0 over the Atlanta Braves.

The Red Sox, who won back-to-back contests at Atlanta earlier this week after snapping a 10-game skid, got two hits and an RBI from A.J. Pierzynski, Jonny Gomes and Jackie Bradley Jr.

"On the heels of what we've come off of (it's been) much needed," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "We've gotten some timely hits. There's a little bit more of a looseness in those situations."

Lackey (6-3) gave up eight hits and piled up nine strikeouts without walking a batter over 6 1/3 innings to win for the fourth time in his last five decisions.

Chris Capuano pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh inning and Junichi Tazawa fanned two in a 1-2-3 eighth frame. Craig Breslow allowed a single to Chris Johnson to start the ninth, but then retired the next three hitters.

There was plenty of fanfare leading up to the first pitch. Prior to the game, the Red Sox honored the 2004 championship team that broke the 86-year drought of winning the World Series. Manny Ramirez, who was signed to a minor league contract as a player-coach for the Cubs last weekend, threw out the ceremonial first pitch, which was picked off by Johnny Damon and then flipped to home plate. Pedro Martinez was also on hand, as well as many other members of the title team.

Gavin Floyd (0-2) surrendered six hits and a pair of runs -- one earned -- over five frames. He lost for the first time in eight career decisions against the Red Sox.

The NL East leaders, who left 10 men on base, had nine hits, two from prospect second baseman Tommy La Stella in his major league debut.

"Tommy was great. He did what we expected him to. He did a nice job. I can't complain," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

Gomes legged out an infield hit in the second inning and went to second on Ramiro Pena's throwing error. Gomes then advanced to third o a wild pitch, and two batters later scored when Daniel Nava grounded into a double play.

Xander Bogaerts, who had three hits, doubled in the third and scored later in the frame on Pierzynski's base hit to center.

Bradley's slicing double to left in the sixth plated Gomes for a 3-0 lead before Lackey was ousted in the seventh after giving up consecutive singles to La Stella and Pena. Capuano then retired Jason Heyward on a ground ball before walking B.J. Upton, but Freddie Freeman grounded out to second to cap the inning.

It became a four-run margin in the bottom half when Gomes singled to left to drive in Dustin Pedroia.

Game Notes

The Red Sox put right-handed starting pitcher Clay Buchholz on the 15-day disabled list due to a hyperextended left knee. To fill Buchholz's spot on the roster, the Red Sox recalled righty Alex Wilson from Triple-A Pawtucket ... The finale of this two-game set at Fenway Park will see Mike Minor pitch for Atlanta and Jake Peavy for Boston ... La Stella had his contract purchased from Triple-A Gwinnett. He batted eighth. Atlanta also optioned infielder Tyler Pastornicky to Gwinnett ... Lackey has thrown at least five innings in a career-best 35 consecutive starts dating back to May 19, 2013.






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