Pedroia Hits 2 Home Runs, Red Sox Beat Braves 9-4
BOSTON -- Steven Wright continues to be the No. 1 surprise of the Boston Red Sox season.
The knuckleballer, added to the rotation at the start of the season because of an injury to Eduardo Rodriguez, turned in his fourth straight quality start on Wednesday night.
Backed by two Dustin Pedroia homers, one a grand slam, and three doubles by David Ortiz, Wright helped the Red Sox to a 9-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves. It was Boston's third straight win over the hapless Braves in two locations this week and fourth victory in a row overall.
Wright (2-2 with a wonderful 1.37 ERA) allowed one earned run in seven innings as the Red Sox improved to 12-9. He struck out seven and has allowed two earned runs or fewer in his last eight starts dating back to last season -- the longest active streak among current American League starters.
Wright got some help from his defense, with both center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. and left fielder Brock Holt making outstanding catches. The only negative from the defense was four passed balls by catcher Ryan Haningan, a sign the knuckleball must have been dancing.
Pedroia hit his second homer of the year with to help knock out Atlanta starter Bud Norris (1-4) in the second inning as the Braves lost their eighth straight to fall to 4-17. Pedroia, given an extra swing when catcher A.J. Pierzynski and third baseman Daniel Castro let his pop foul fall between them in the eighth, hit the next pitch for a solo homer.
Freddie Freeman ended the Braves' 15-game homerless stretch with a solo shot off reliever Tommy Layne -- Atlanta's fourth homer of the season and second since Opening Day. Freeman has two of them. Nick Markakis doubled home a run in the ninth.
The Red Sox have scored 20 runs in the last two games against the Braves, Tuesday in Atlanta and Wednesday at Fenway Park.
The Red Sox scored twice in the first inning and then chased Norris in the second.
With one out in the first, Pedroia singled and was forced at second by Xander Bogaerts. Ortiz's first double chased Bogaerts home from first, and Hanley Ramirez then dropped a hit into right-center to score Ortiz.
Freeman doubled to start the Braves' second. He took third on Pierzynski's single -- the catcher's 2,000th career hit -- and scored on Kelly Johnson's single. A passed ball moved runners to second and third with one out, but Wright escaped.
The Red Sox loaded the bases with nobody out when Pedroia hit the right-field foul pole with his third career grand slam, his first since 2014. When Ortiz doubled again, Norris and his 8.64 ERA were done.
Wright's throwing error helped the Braves load the bases in the third, and Pierzynski was hit by a pitch to force home a run.
Atlanta's Erick Aybar struck out to start the fourth but reached first -- and then second and third -- on Hanigan passed balls. He didn't score.
Ortiz doubled home another run off John Gant and scored on Travis Shaw's triple.
NOTES: RF Nick Markakis had nine of Atlanta's 30 extra-base hits on the season coming into Wednesday's game, and his nine doubles tied for the National League lead. No other NL team had fewer than 48 extra-base hits through Tuesday. ... Markakis' 15 RBIs were nine more than any teammate. ... The Elias Sports Bureau says the Red Sox's 210 strikeouts through 20 games is the most by any team since 1900. The Cleveland Indians had the record of 198 last season. ... Red Sox president Dave Dombrowski, reacting on WEEI radio report of rumors concerning manager John Farrell's job situation, said, "He has my support. He knows he has my support. I'm happy he's our manager." ... Entering the game, 60 players had at least four homers, one more than the Braves, and 102 had at least three. ... Atlanta RHP Jhoulys Chacin faces RHP Clay Buchholz in the finale of the four-game home and home set Thursday night before the Yankees visit Boston for the first time this season. ...RHP Carson Smith, who has yet to make his Red Sox debut because of a right forearm strain, will pitch at Double-A Portland this weekend and could be activated next week.