FINAL: Atlanta Braves 5, Red Sox 0 - Long Ball Bites Pivetta Thrice, Sox Leave 9 On

The Red Sox (19-18) lose the two game series to the Braves (22-12), with tonight's final being 5-0. Former Red Sock Chris Sale dominated in the win, and the Red Sox bats couldn't get their runners in.

Boston's hitters struck out twelve times tonight with Chris Sale getting ten of them, and got only seven hits. The lone extra base hit was from Connor Wong, a double in the first inning. The Sox left nine runners on base tonight.

Nick Pivetta struggled in his first game back since early April, as he went only four innings, giving up seven hits, five runs, three home runs, and striking out only one Brave. The bullpen arms did well for the Sox tonight, the four of them giving up only two hits, with Chris Martin and Chase Anderson throwing a hitless inning each.

My Player of the Game: Connor Wong - Wong stretched a single into a double in the first inning with some heads up baserunning, and got himself a single as well. The only Boston batter with multiple hits on the night, and the only batter to not strike out.

The Red Sox have a much needed off day tomorrow before starting a home series against the Washington Nationals on Friday, at 7:10 p.m.. Probable starters for that one are Patrick Corbin (0-3, 6.45 ERA) and Josh Winckowski (1-1, 3.47 ERA).
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ___________________________

WHO: Red Sox (19-17) at Atlanta Braves (21-12)
WHEN: 7:20 p.m.
WHERE: Truist Park, Atlanta
SERIES TO DATE: 0-1
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Nick Pivetta (1-1, 0.82 ERA) vs. LHP Chris Sale (4-1, 3.44 ERA)
TV/RADIO: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7

LIVE BOX

LINEUPS

RED SOX

Jarren Duran CF
Connor Wong C
Tyler O'Neill LF
Rafael Devers 3B
Vaughn Grissom 2B
Garrett Cooper DH
Romy Gonzales 1B
Wilyer Abreu RF
Ceddanne Rafalea SS

SP Nick Pivetta

OPPONENT

Ronald Acuna Jr RF
Ozzie Albies 2B
Austin Riley 3B
Matt Olson 1B
Marcell Ozuna DH
Orlando Arcia SS
Michael Harris II CF
Travis d'Arnaud C
Jarred Kelenic LF

SP Chris Sale

WHAT'S UP

The Red Sox lost to ATL last night, 4-2... BOS tied a season high with 13 runners LOB (also 4/30 vs. SF). Kutter Crawford allowed 2 runs over 6.0 IP (5 H, 2 BB, 6 SO, HBP)...His 1.75 ERA ranks 7th in MLB. Ceddanne Rafaela (2-for-4, RBI) recorded his teamleading 20th RBI, on a single in the 6th inning.

The Red Sox were off Monday and will be off tomorrow...Beginning Friday, they are scheduled to play 23 games in 24 days, through 6/2 (off day on 5/23), including 13 straight days with a game from 5/10-22.

Brayan Bello made his 1st rehab start last night with Double-A Portland (2.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO). In his last 3 starts before landing on the 15-Day IL with right lat tightness, Bello allowed only 3 earned runs in 16.2 IP (1.62 ERA) with 18 SO and 6 BB.

Boston leads the Majors with a 2.65 ERA (95 ER/322.1 IP), the club’s lowest mark through 36 games since 1920 (2.63). The Red Sox have an MLB-best 9 players with an ERA less than 2.00 (min. 10.0 IP): Bernardino-0.61, Pivetta-0.82, Weissert-1.17, Jansen-1.69, Criswell-1.74, Crawford-1.75, Slaten-1.80, Whitlock-1.96, and Houck-1.99. The Red Sox have shut out their opponent 6 times, most in MLB and 1 more than they recorded in 2023. Red Sox starting pitchers lead MLB with a 2.13 ERA (43 ER/181.1 IP)...They also rank 3rd in MLB in WHIP (1.04) and 4th in opponent AVG (.212).

Red Sox outfielders lead MLB with 10 defensive runs saved...They also rank T-5th in MLB with a 3.3 ultimate zone rating. Jarren Duran leads outfielders with 9 DRS. Wilyer Abreu is tied for the Major League among right fielders with 5 DRS (also Andy Pages-LAD).

Red Sox outfielders lead MLB in XBH (50), runs scored (73), SLG (.487), and total bases (201), while ranking 2nd in hits (115), AVG (.279), OBP (.363), and OPS (.850). Boston’s catchers lead the AL in AVG (.312), OPS (.857), and wRC+ (140).

The Red Sox have an MLB-best 10 players with at least 10 RBI: Rafaela-20, Duran-15, Wong-14, Abreu-13, O’Neill-13, Devers-12, McGuire-11, Valdez-11, Yoshida-11, Casas-10. 6 Sox players own an .800+ OPS (min. 40 PA), tied with BAL for 2nd most in MLB behind LAD (7).