Bosox best Braves in Pedroia’s return

BOSTON » Andrew Benintendi homered and drove in three runs, helping the Boston Red Sox beat the Atlanta Braves 8-6 on Saturday.

The AL East-leading Red Sox celebrated the return of Dustin Pedroia with their sixth win in seven games. Mitch Moreland had a key two-run double, and knuckleballer Steven Wright (10) pitched three scoreless innings for the victory.

The 34-year-old Pedroia went 0 for 4 with a walk and scored in his first game after offseason knee surgery. He got up with the bases loaded and two out in the first, but flied out to right to end the inning.

Dansby Swanson hit a tworun homer for Atlanta, and Ronald Acuna Jr. connected for a

solo shot. The Braves have dropped 10 of their last 13 at Fenway Park.

Atlanta left-hander Sean Newcomb, a Massachusetts native, struggled with his control in his first career game in Fenway, giving up three runs and six hits over three innings with four walks and four strikeouts.

But the Braves had a 5-4 lead before Moreland’s double down the right-field line off Sam Freeman (1-2) in the sixth. Benintendi added a two-run triple in the seventh.

Craig Kimbrel got three outs for his 16th save.

The Red Sox had to rally after Drew Pomeranz was pulled with one out in the fourth. He was charged with five runs and six hits.

Swanson connected in the second, hitting a drive to the Green Monster seats for his third homer. Kurt Suzuki added an RBI single in the third, and Freddie Freeman and Nick Markakis each drove in a run in the fourth.