Price Strikes Out 14, Red Sox Beat Braves 11-4
By The Sports Xchange
ATLANTA -- David Price recovered from one of the worst starts of his career to match his career high with 14 strikeouts and help the Boston Red Sox to an 11-4 win, handing the Atlanta Braves their seventh straight loss.
Price did not resemble the same pitcher who allowed a career-high-tying eight earned runs in his last start. In improving his record to 3-0, Price pitched eight innings and allowed two runs on six hits and two walks.
Price got eight of the final nine outs he recorded on strikeouts. The left-hander retired seven straight batters on three separate occasions.
The Red Sox offense was sparked by third baseman Travis Shaw, who had a three-run homer in the first inning and a two-run double in the ninth, and shortstop Xander Bogaerts, who was 3-for-5 with one RBI.
It was the third straight win for Boston.
Wisler (0-2) allowed four runs in the first inning before settling down, but he pitched only five innings, his shortest start of the season. He allowed five runs on five hits with three walks, a hit batsman and a wild pitch.
Boston's Pat Light made his major league debut in the ninth inning and allowed two runs.
The Red Sox jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Shaw hit a long three-run homer to right field, his second, that was measured at 418 feet. Boston added another run on an RBI double by Brock Holt, who has safely reached base in each of the 16 games he's played this season.
The Braves got one run back in the bottom of the first by stringing together three consecutive singles, the last one by Jeff Francoeur that produced a run.
Atlanta made it 4-2 with a run in the fourth inning. With the bases loaded, Wisler delivered a long sacrifice fly that almost got over the head of right fielder Mookie Betts and scored Francoeur.
Boston got the run back in the fifth. Dustin Pedroia doubled, went to third on a long fly and scored on a wild pitch.
NOTES: Boston RHP Carson Smith (right flexor) had a bullpen session on Tuesday and is scheduled to pitch Friday and Saturday. He could return as soon as Tuesday in Chicago. LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (right knee) pitched a five-inning simulated game on Saturday and is scheduled to take the mound for Class A Salem on Thursday. He could make two or three starts before being ready to return. Both have been on the disabled list since April 3. ... Atlanta OF Ender Inciarte (hamstring) is ready to return. Manager Fredi Gonzalez said the staff will meet with doctors to determine the plan for Inciarte, who might be able to return in the next 7-10 days. ... Atlanta rookie Aaron Blair was named the International League's Pitcher of the week for April 18-24, when he worked seven no-hit innings and struck out 10 for Triple-A Gwinnett. ... The final two games of the series move to Boston for games on Wednesday and Thursday. Pitching matchups for Wednesday are Atlanta RHP Bud Norris (1-3, 6.75 ERA) against Boston RHP Steven Wright (1-2, 1.40). Wright has made seven straight starts without allowing more than two earned runs.