Braves 4 - 2 Red Sox
Final
  for this game

Braves send Red Sox to 7th straight loss

Jun 16, 2015 - 5:56 AM Boston, MA (SportsNetwork.com) - In the midst of a season-long losing streak, sending a recently ineffective Rick Porcello to the mound was probably not the best way to end the Boston Red Sox's current skid.

Williams Perez, on the other hand, was sharp as he helped the Atlanta Braves to a 4-2 win over the struggling Red Sox in the opener of two-game set at Fenway Park on Monday night.

Perez (3-0) scattered five hits and two walks in six scoreless innings, sending Boston to a seventh straight defeat. The 24-year-old Perez, making his sixth career start, has allowed just one run in 19 innings on the road this season while in a starting role.

"He pitched better than we could have expected," said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez. "Pitching at Fenway, against an American League team, I couldn't have asked for anything more."

Porcello (4-7), meanwhile, lost his fifth consecutive start after giving up four runs on six hits with five strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings.

Nick Markakis, A.J. Pierzynski and Jace Peterson each drove in a run for the Braves, who had dropped three of their last four coming in.

Xander Bogaerts homered and Mookie Betts had an RBI for the Red Sox.

"(Betts) swung the bat good," said Boston manager John Farrell. "Couple days off didn't disrupt his timing."

Atlanta gave Perez three runs of support in the fourth to grab the lead. Freddie Freeman singled with one away and swiped second for his third stolen base of the season. Markakis then knocked him in with a base hit to left and scored on a wild pitch by Porcello later in the inning. Pierzynski added an RBI single moments later as the Braves went up 3-0.

The Braves tacked on an insurance run in the seventh on Peterson's RBI single. Atlanta was able to load the bases with one out as Porcello's night came to a close after he walked Jonny Gomes and hit Andrelton Simmons. Robbie Ross Jr. was called on from the bullpen and allowed Peterson's hit to right, then Cameron Maybin grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Bogaerts smacked a solo shot off reliever Dana Eveland in the seventh, his third homer of the season.

Jim Johnson tossed a scoreless eighth inning and Jason Grilli secured his 17th save of the season despite allowing an unearned run in the ninth.

Game Notes

The Red Sox recalled Ross from Triple-A Pawtucket prior to the game and designated Jeff Bianchi for assignment ... Perez, who earned his first career save on Saturday in a win over the Mets, has allowed one or no runs in seven of his nine appearances this season ... Porcello's last win came at Seattle on May 16. He had won his only other previous start against the Braves, a 7-4 decision on April 27, 2013 while with Detroit ... The Red Sox announced that right-handed pitcher Brandon Workman underwent successful Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.






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