ATLANTA - Their pitching staff in disarray, the Red Sox cobbled together eight different pitchers and defeated the Atlanta Braves, 8-2.
A three-run ninth inning, highlighted by a two-run double from Xander Bogaerts, helped seal the victory.
Starter Nathan Eovaldi, pitching on just two days' rest after a rain-shortened outing in Chicago Friday night, got through just 3.1 innings on 86 pitches. Seven relievers followed him to the mound, with none pitching more than an inning.
After being held without a hit for the first four innings, the Sox strung together three doubles in the span of seven pitches to score three times in the fifth. They added another two runs in the eighth on a two-run single from Ian Kinsler.
IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS:
3:50 Heath Hembree has been the guy the Red Sox turn to with traffic on the bases, and he's stranded 24-of-31 this season. Here's one of the biggest spots of the season for him -- two on, two out, Red Sox with a one-run lead in the seventh.
3:15 A little surprising that Wright, who's stretched out at least somewhat, was lifted after just one inning. Joe Kelly now on, who allows a solo homer to Ozzie Albies on his second pitch.
2:40 After being no-hit through the first 4.1 innings, the Red So have strung together three doubles -- from Eduardo Nunez, Ian Kinsler and Christian Vazquez -- to quickly take a 2-0 lead.
2:31 Nice work by Workman, who, after issuing a walk to first hitter he faced, gets out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam.
2:21 Alex Cora is not fooling around today -- he lifts Eovaldi after just 3.1 innings and 85 pitches. Eovaldi hadn't allowed a run, but had issued a season-high four walks and leaves runners on the corners with one out for Brandon Workman.
2:09 Sox looked to have a good case to claim interference on the part of pitcher Touki Toussaint. He clearly impeded Andrew Benintendi running down the line, but Sox don't get the call
2:08 Red Sox appear to be in one of those periodic offensive funks. Haven't scored in the last 14 innings.
1:25 Nathan Eovaldi showing some atypical wildness in the early going. Before today, his season high for walks in a game was two; today, he walked two of the first three hitters he faced.
WHO: Red Sox vs. Atlanta Braves
WHEN: 1:05 p.m.
WHERE: SunTrust Ballpark
WHAT: The Red Sox were shutout by the White Sox Sunday, earning them just a split in the four-game series in Chicago. Despite the loss, the Sox have won four of their last six and remain 7.5 games in front of New York in the A.L. East standings. This is the second series of the year against the Braves, who came to Boston in late May and dropped two-of-three at Fenway. Dating back to 2006, the Red Sox are 12-3 in the last 15 head-to-head meetings.
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Nathan Eovaldi (5-7, 4.35) vs. RHP Touki Toussaint (1-0, 1.50)
TV/RADIO: NESN/WEEI 93.7 FM
LINEUPS
RED SOX
Betts CF
Benintendi LF
Martinez RF
Bogaerts SS
Moreland 1B
Nunez 3B
Kinsler 2B
Vazquez C
Eovaldi P
BRAVES
Acuna Jr. LF
Inciarte CF
Freeman 1B
Markakis RF
Camargo 3B
Suzuki C
Albies 2B
Swanson SS
Toussaint P
NEWS AND NOTES:
- The Red Sox are undecided on a starting pitcher for Wednesday, though Drew Pomeranz may be the likely choice -- depending on the team's bullpen usage in Monday afternoon's game.
- The Sox will add two more players to the major league roster Tuesday -- Rafael Devers and Brandon Phillips. Phillips is something of a surprise since with Ian Kinsler, Brock Holt, Devers, Tzu-Wei Lin and Eduardo Nunez the Sox have plenty of infield options. But Alex Cora said the Sox wanted to reward Phillips for playing well and choosing to remain with the Sox despite having opt-out opportunities.