Homers lead Red Sox over Braves, 6-2
BOSTON — Mookie Betts hit his major-league-leading 17th home run, J.D. Martinez slugged his 16th homer and the Boston Red Sox beat the Atlanta Braves 6-2 on Friday night, hours after a surprising roster shakeup.
Boston got its fifth win in six games shortly after announcing it had designated Hanley Ramirez for assignment. The move freed a roster spot for Dustin Pedroia to be activated from the disabled list and also created the chance for regular playing time at first base for Mitch Moreland, who had a solo homer in the eighth.
The Red Sox fared fine without Ramirez, the struggling slugger they signed to an $88 million, four-year deal before the 2015 season. Xander Bogaerts also had a solo homer as Boston converted big time on its seven hits.
Eduardo Rodriguez struggled early but managed to hold Atlanta to just a pair of runs on six hits with three walks in 5 2/3 innings. Rodriguez (5-1) struck out seven despite his early control issues and walked three.
Nick Markakis hit a tworun double for the Braves, who have lost three of four games. Julio Teheran (4-2) pitched six innings, allowing three runs on four hits, walking three and striking out four.
Martinez pulled Boston within 2-1 with a leadoff homer in fourth on a line drive that clipped the top of the Green Monster. Bogaerts tied it two batters later on a solo shot that left the ballpark entirely.
Boston took its first lead in the fifth when Jackie Bradley Jr. tripled to center with one out and scored on Andrew Benintendi’s sacrifice fly.
Rodriguez appeared headed for a short night when he allowed two or more baserunners in each of the first three innings. Atlanta scored twice in
the third when Ronald Acuna Jr. and Freddie Freeman started the inning with back-to-back singles and Markakis drove in both with his double to left.
Betts’ and Moreland’s homers came off reliever Matt Wisler, who was just recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett.
The Braves placed left-handed pitcher Luiz Gohara on the bereavement list, allowing him to return to Brazil to spend time with his mother as she recovers from heart surgery.
The Red Sox activated second baseman Pedroia (offseason knee surgery) but did not start him. Dave Dombrowski, president of baseball operations, said the team os going to let the four-time All-Star and 2008 AL MVP ease back into the lineup, likely starting today.
“He feels good. He’s not having any pain, so we think that he’ll be fine to go out there, but we are going to be careful in that regard,” Dombrowski said.
A rookie pitcher who grew up in Massachusetts, Sean Newcomb (5-1, 1.29 ERA) is 4-0 with a 0.36 ERA in four starts this month and is making his first appearance against the Red Sox in today’s 1:05 p.m. game.