Marcell Ozuna’s single that drove in a run in the eighth inning helped Atlanta take the lead, leading them to a 4-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night, ending their three-game losing streak.
Kutter Crawford from Boston and Reynaldo López from Atlanta, both right-handed pitchers with ERAs below 2.00, each allowed two runs in the game.
Despite the win, Atlanta’s offense struggled, managing only seven hits. This win doesn’t necessarily indicate a turnaround for their recent hitting slump. In their previous six games, they scored only six runs, losing all three games against the Los Angeles Dodgers in their recent road trip.
“It’s been a tough stretch,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker. “We’re still working through it.” The Braves relied heavily on their pitching, with left-hander Aaron Bummer making crucial strikeouts in the sixth inning to limit the Red Sox’s scoring.
In the eighth inning, with the game tied at 2-2, Atlanta capitalized on a walk by Justin Slaten to Ozzie Albies and a single by Austin Riley. Marcell Ozuna’s single brought in Albies, and Orlando Arcia’s ground ball extended the lead by driving in Riley.
Jarred Kelenic’s two-run homer in the third inning, after Crawford hit Travis d’Arnaud with a pitch, initially gave Atlanta a 2-0 lead.
Despite the loss, Crawford and López had impressive performances, both ranking among the top pitchers in the league based on ERA for pitchers with at least five starts.
