Chattanooga Times Free Press

Braves sweep behind Duvall’s three homers

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BOSTON — Adam Duvall hit three home runs a night after teammate Marcell Ozuna become the first National League player ever to accomplish the feat in Fenway Park, and the division-leading Atlanta Braves beat the stumbling Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night, 7-5, to complete a three-game sweep in the interleagu­e matchup.

Duvall hit a pair of tworun 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 past 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. Veteran Braves first baseman 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-worst 13 games under .500.

Fenway was built in 1912, but the Red Sox are an American League 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 this year.

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

Right-hander 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 a scoreless inning.

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

Braves second baseman Johan Camargo made a nice over-the-shoulder, running catch on Martinez’s pop well beyond the infield dirt.

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