Sports

Duvall Follows Ozuna With 3 HRs; Braves Sweep Red Sox

September 2, 2020 / 11:05 PM EDT / CBS Boston

click to expand

BOSTON (AP) — Adam Duvall hit three home runs a night after teammate Marcell Ozuna become the first NL player ever to hit three homers in Fenway Park, and the East-leading Atlanta Braves beat the stumbling Boston Red Sox 7-5 Wednesday night to complete a three-game sweep.

Duvall hit a pair of two-run shots over the Green Monster and a solo blast to center for his five RBIs. Ozuna added a long, tiebreaking solo drive for the Braves, who entered the three-game set winless in their last 15 series (0-12-3) against the Red Sox.

It was Atlanta's first sweep in Boston since capturing a three-game set in 2002. Freddie Freeman had two hits to extend his hitting streak to 16 games.

Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a solo homer and J.D. Martinez had two hits and two RBIs for the Red Sox, who fell a season-high 13 games under .500.

Fenway was built in 1912, but the Red Sox are an AL club and interleague play wasn't introduced in MLB until 1997.

Ozuna's drive also cleared the Monster, sailing over a billboard and completely out of Fenway against Andrew Triggs (0-2) in the seventh. Duvall's third homer hit off a back wall near the bleachers after his second homer had tied it at 5 against Triggs an inning earlier.

Tyler Matzek (3-2) got four outs in relief for the victory. Mark Melancon struck out the side in the ninth for his eighth save in nine chances.

The Braves tied it at 3 in the second when Duvall hit his first homer, and Ozuna added an RBI single.

Bradley's pushed the Red Sox ahead 4-3 in the fourth. Martinez's RBI single made it 5-3.

Making just his fourth career start, Braves lefty Robbie Erlin was tagged for five runs and six hits in four-plus innings.

WHO'S NEXT?

RHP Robinson Leyer became the 12th different pitcher to start for the Red Sox in just their 37th game. He was the "opener" and fanned two in scoreless inning.

The 27-year-old Leyer made 236 minor league appearances over four organizations before he made his MLB debut Monday, allowing a run with a strikeout.

NICE GRAB

Braves 2B Johan Camargo made a nice over-the-shoulder, running catch on Martinez's pop well beyond the infield dirt.

POSITIVE THOUGHTS

Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke was asked before the game how he handles all the losing this season.

"I think the easy way to do this, is to focus to try and get people better," he said. "As long as I'm able to focus on that, the wins and losses don't get to me too much."

TRAINER'S ROOM

Braves: OF Ronald Acuña Jr. was out of the lineup for the third straight game after tightness in his right hamstring forced him out of Sunday's victory. "He's good. He had a good workout (Tuesday)," manager Brian Snitker said. "With the off day tomorrow, we just decided to get him the whole series." … Snitker said 2B Ozzie Albies (right wrist inflammation) could hit some live pitching at the club's alternate training site "in a couple of days."

Red Sox: DH/OF Martinez returned to the lineup and played left field. He missed the last two games after getting hit on the left hand by a fastball. … Roenicke said RHP Nathan Eovaldi (calf tightness) played catch and will throw a bullpen Thursday, but probably not start Saturday when he's eligible to come off the IL. "Maybe push him back a day or so," Roenicke said. … Placed LHP Kyle Hart on the 10-day injured list with a left hip impingement.

UP NEXT

Braves: Off Thursday.

Red Sox: Open a five-game series against the Blue Jays in Fenway Thursday. LHP Martín Pérez (2-4, 4.58 ERA) is slated to go for Boston against RHP Taijuan Walker (3-2, 3.27).

Red Sox