ATLANTA - Rick Porcello allowed one run over five innings and Steve Pearce knocked in three runs as the Red Sox improved to 13-3 against the National League this season with a 5-1 defeat of the Atlanta Braves.
Porcello earned his first win since April 14, allowing just two hits.
The Sox trailed 1-0 after Kurt Suzuki homered off Porcello in the second. But that would be the last Braves run of the night.
Pearce singled home two runs as part of a three-run fifth against Massachusetts native Sean Newcomb. In the sixth, a bases-loaded walk to Xander Bogaerts and another RBI-single from Pearce yielded two more runs.
IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS:
9:34 Steve Pearce proves his value -- again. He slaps a single to left, scoring two runs. Tonight, he's reached base in all four plate appearances (walk, three singles) and knocked in three runs. Since joining the Sox, he's hitting .299 with 19 RBI.
8:53 And there's the Porcello hit of the night - a sharp single to right field. In three starts in National League ballparks this season, Porcello has three hits in seven at-bats, including two doubles in previous at-bats in Washington. D.C. and Philadelphia
8:44 Huge squander from the Red Sox in the top of the fourth. After loading the bases with one out, the Red Sox get nothing out of the opportunity, as Sean Newcomb gets Eduardo Nunez on a pop-up to short, slips a called third strike past Bradley and retires Sandy Leon on a lineout to center.
8:33 Porcello has battled through three innings, allowing one run, but it's taken 71 pitches to do so, raising questions about how many innings he can be expected to provide. Barring something unforeseen, he likely won't be able to go more than five.
8:01 Didn't look like a bad pitch from Rick Porcello -- a two-seamer, low and away to Kurt Suzuki -- but the result is a solo homer to right-center. Porcello has allowed a homer in seven of his last eight outings, including five in his last four.
7:52 Oh, the irony in another outfielder making *that* catch against Jackie Bradley Jr. Nick Markakis drifts back and then back some more before timing his jump at the wall perfectly and taking extra bases away from Bradley.
7:48 Terrific leaping play by Braves third baseman Johan Camargo, who robs Xander Bogaerts of at least a single.
WHO: Red Sox vs. Atlanta Braves
WHERE: SunTrust Park
WHEN: 7:35 p.m.
WHAT'S UP: The Red Sox took the opener of the series Monday afternoon to give them a 3-2 record on the road trip to date. They've won three-of-four against the Braves this season with two games remaining. The Sox have cleaned up in interleague play again, going 12-3 against National League opponents. With their win yesterday's and Oakland's win over the Yankees, the Sox lead in the A.L. East is back up to 8.5 games with 23 games remaining....J.D. Martinez was named American League Player of the Month for August. He hit .373 for the month with seven homers and 25 RBI and an OPS of 1.139...The Sox haven't committed an error in their last seven games and have made only four in their last 21...Ian Kinsler is hitting second in the lineup tonight for the first time since joining the Red Sox. Kinsler is hitting .407 (11-for-27) in the last seven games and over the last 32 -- dating back to his time with the Angels -- is batting .354...Much was made Monday of the decision to walk Martinez and pitch to Xander Bogaerts, who foiled the strategy by doubling home two runs. This season, as a team, the Red Sox are hitting .361 with the bases loaded, the best such figure in the big leagues...Rick Porcello, tonight's starter, last faced the Braves in 2016, so there's not much of a track record there. Porcello's nine road wins this season are second-most in the A.L. behind only Tampa Bay's Blake Snell. Meanwhile, Atlanta starter Sean Newcomb, a Massachusetts native, will be making his second start of the season against the Sox tonight. In his first outing, he allowed three runs on six hits in three innings and received a no-decision in an 8-6 Red Sox victory.
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Rick Porcello (15-7, 4.27) vs. LHP Sean Newcomb (11-7, 3.85)
TV/RADIO: NESN/WEEI 93.7 FM
LINEUPS
RED SOX
Betts RF
Kinsler 2B
Martinez LF
Bogaerts SS
Pearce 1B
Nunez 3B
Bradley CF
Leon C
Porcello P
BRAVES
Acuna LF
Inciarte CF
Freeman 1B
Markakis RF
Camargo 3B
Suzuki C
Albies 2B
Swanson SS
Newcomb P
NEWS AND NOTES:
- Brandon Phillips joined the Red Sox Tuesday and could get his first start as soon as Wednesday, when the Sox play an early game (12:10), coming off a night game tonight. "It feels good just to be here,'' said Phillips, who couldn't find a job earlier this season until the Sox signed him and sent him to Pawtucket. "I'm happy to be where I'm at To be in the big leagues again, it's a blessing.'' Phillips had a few opt-out clauses in his contract, but elected to remain with the organization. "You've got to finish what you started,'' Phillips said. "Why quit now? If you start something, then the good thing for you to do is go out there and finish it.''
- Chris Sale threw a bullpen today and will throw another one Saturday at Fenway. "I'm not sure when he'll be the opener,'' said Alex Cora, "but it looks like it will be on the homestand.''
- David Price, who was hit in the left wrist by a comebacker last week and missed his next start, will pitch Friday against Houston. He'll be followed by Eduardo Rodriguez and Rick Porcello, as the Sox give a couple of extra days to Nathan Eovaldi, who will next pitch on Tuesday against Toronto.
- Hector Velazquez -- and not Drew Pomeranz -- will start the series finale Wednesday. Cora said he liked "the way Drew's throwing the ball out of the bullpen and I didn't want to mess with his routine. We'll see how long Hector goes; it might be similar to what we did (Monday with Eovaldi, who was pitching on just two days' rest).''
- Cora plans to give J.D. Martinez and Xander Bogaerts the day off Wednesday.
- Rafael Devers, who returned to the club Tuesday, will be in the starting lineup Wednesday.