The Atlanta Braves ended an eight-game losing streak, beating the Boston Red Sox 5-3 Thursday night as Nick Markakis had three singles, a double and three RBIs. Price’s previous start against the Tampa Bay Rays and their league-worst offense was particularly unsightly, as he allowed eight runs and couldn’t get out of the fourth inning.
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“His (spring training) performance is probably going to drive the decision of where he ends up”, Farrell said.
“It feels good that I’m not out there searching for something and trying to make an adjustment during a game”, Porcello said.
Jace Peterson, Erick Aybar and Mallex Smith aren’t household names – they came in batting.205, .147 and.136 respectively – but the Braves Nos.
Looking for his first win of the season, Buchholz allowed five earned runs on eight hits with four walks and two strikeouts over 6 1/3 inning of work. If he can stay healthy, and that’s always a big if, he may still be the game’s premiere second baseman. After loading the bases with two singles and a walk, Pedroia hit a slicing fly ball that caromed high off the Pesky Pole, making it 6-1.
The 1975 California Angels are the only other team in the expansion era – since 1961 – to have hit as few as three home runs while playing 20 or more games in April, according to STATS.
It was the longest power outage for the franchise since the Boston Braves went 16 games without a homer in 1946.
Closer Craig Kimbrel, returning to his former Atlanta home, struck out Freeman to cap a ideal ninth for his sixth save one night after his first blown save.
Versus the Braves, Wright worked 7-innings, giving-up 3-hits and 2-runs, with 3-walks and 8-strikeouts. Boston’s stealing bases for the first time in years, and it’s fun to watch. I want to get 27 outs every five days. Pierzynski was also hit by a pitch with the bases loaded for an RBI in the third inning. He responded with a single and also bunted for a base hit against the defensive shift.
The move down in the order is expected to be temporary.
But given the chance to join the rotation, Wright has been the club’s most consistent starter – even more consistent than David Price, the $217 Million Man. Five relievers finished up, with Arodys Vizcaino pitching the ninth.
The Red Sox jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning.
1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on.
The plans will change when OF Ender Inciarte (hamstring) returns from the disabled list in about two weeks.
Red Sox: RHP Carson Smith, on the 15-day DL with a right flexor muscle strain, is targeted for back-to-back appearances with Triple-A Pawtucket on Friday and Saturday.
The Red Sox owned Atlanta for the first three games of the series, with David Price striking out 14 batters and Dustin Pedroia homering twice in the same game.
Braves: RHP Aaron Blair (0-1, 5.06 ERA) is set to start for the Braves when they open a weekend series at Chicago against Cubs’ LHP Jon Lester (2-1, 1.98). After he was traded to the Blue Jays at the trade deadline, Price was quite dominant in his 11 starts, posting a 9-1 record with a 2.45 ERA and 87 strikeouts in just 74.1 innings pitched.
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Jose Quintana (3-1) struck out a season-high 10 in six innings for the Chisox, who at 16-6 are 10 games above.500 for the first time since September 25, 2012.
