May 18, 2024
BOSTON (AP) — The Atlanta Braves arrived at Fenway Park looking to put a disappointing series against the NL-East leading New York Mets as far in the rearview mirror as possible.
Austin Riley did his part to start that process.
Riley had a go-ahead, two-run single in the 11th inning and the Braves rallied for a 9-7 win over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night.
Riley also hit his 30th home run of the season, a towering, two-run shot over the Green Monster, and an RBI triple to help Atlanta snap its first three-game losing streak of the year.
“It was huge,” Riley said of getting back in the win column after dropping four of five to the Mets. “Coming off this weekend I felt like that was a needed win, and we got it and hopefully we can build off that."
Jarren Duran, Christian Arroyo and Tommy Pham homered for the Red Sox, who have lost three straight and five of six.
With automatic runner Michael Harris II on second base in the 11th, Ronald Acuña Jr. singled and then stole second, setting up Riley's hit.
Atlanta scored five of its seven runs with two outs.
“When you're struggling and you're kind of looking for a win, it's never easy,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “It's not just something that's gonna be smooth.”
Dylan Lee (3-0) got the win and Tyler Matzek struck out two in a scoreless 11th for his first save of the season. Braves starter Charlie Morton allowed five runs and six hits over six innings. He struck out seven and yielded all three Boston homers. The right-hander has just one win in his past 11 outings.
Boston lefty Rich Hill was pulled after giving up four runs and seven hits over four innings. Kaleb Ort (0-1), the sixth Red Sox reliever, allowed three runs over 1 2/3 innings.
Atlanta struck out only four times after whiffing a season-high 19 times in Sunday's series finale against the Mets.
“That's a good lineup over there. They've got some tough right-handed hitters," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “We've got to throw the ball better. ... We've got to be better putting the ball in play and obviously throwing strikes."
Atlanta took a 7-6 lead in the 10th when Orlando Arcia drove in automatic runner Eddie Rosario.
But the Red Sox tied it in the bottom of the inning after automatic runner Xander Bogaerts advanced to third on an infield single by Alex Verdugo and scored on a sacrifice fly by J.D. Martinez.
