Red Sox Shut Out Braves 8-0 to Even Three-Game Series

Boston left-hander Connelly Early (5-2) threw seven shutout innings, allowing four hits, three walks and striking out seven. Ryan Watson added two hitless innings. All eight Red Sox runs came in the fourth inning: Masataka Yoshida reached on a throwing error, Isiah Kiner-Falefa drove an RBI single, and Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu each delivered two-run singles. Jarren Duran capped the night with a 400-foot home run—his eighth—after a 4-for-5 performance. Bryce Elder (4-3) surrendered six runs on nine hits while striking out once in 3 1/3 innings. Carlos Carrasco recorded his 1,700th career strikeout in the seventh inning of a four-inning effort that allowed two runs.

NewsdayRed Sox 8, Braves 0; Boston evens series with massive fourth inningGame 54: Red Sox vs. Braves, Connelly Early takes ball to even seriesThe Scouting Report: Braves vs Red Sox, Game TwoIsiah Kiner-Falefa Praises New Red Sox Hitting Coach After Braves Game

The win halted Boston’s five-game skid and marked its seventh shutout of the season, tying a club record. Boston remains the only club without ten home victories. The six-run fourth inning was only the second such inning for the Red Sox this year, the first occurring in a 10-3 win over Detroit on May 5. Atlanta entered 37-18, atop the NL East and 20-8 on the road, and sent right-hander Bryce Elder, who carried a league-best 1.97 ERA, to the mound.

Red Sox 8, Braves 0; Boston evens series with massive fourth inning

Early’s ERA improved to 2.68. Elder entered with a league-best 1.97 ERA but surrendered six runs. Duran went 4-for-5 with a homer and eight RBIs. Kiner-Falefa was 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Rafaela added two hits and two RBIs; Abreu contributed a two-run single. Carrasco’s 1,700th strikeout came in a four-inning effort allowing two runs. The Red Sox remain the only MLB club yet to record ten home victories.

Newsday

Red Sox infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa praised the new hitting staff, noting they have helped elevate his performance and contributed to the team’s recent offensive surge. Social-media users criticized Atlanta’s decision to start shortstop Ha-Seong Kim despite a .105 average, calling for a lineup change and reflecting broader concerns about the Braves’ flexibility.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa Praises New Red Sox Hitting Coach After Braves Game

• “The new hitting coaches have been doing a great job with trying to elevate the ball to left field,” Kiner-Falefa said. “To get some results is just showing that all the work I’ve been putting in is working. They understand where I’m at in my career and I’m giving them the full leeway to help me develop. That’s the reason I signed here, to be developed as a hitter.” — Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Red Sox infielder

Isiah Kiner-Falefa Praises New Red Sox Hitting Coach After Braves Game

• “Bro….Kim again? Why? Mateo is such a better choice right now. Kim needs to be sent back down for a while. He clearly isn’t ready. Hell, I’d rather take the chance and let Dom play SS, lol.” — @wrossmonahan, Twitter user

Heavy

• “A mateo sighting? am i dreaming?” — @Burnerbravess, Twitter user

Heavy

• “How can you justify Harris hitting below Riley and Ozzie” — @BravesAndStuff, Twitter user

Heavy

Chris Sale (7-3, 1.89 ERA) will pitch Thursday, and Payton Tolle (2-2, 2.45 ERA) starts for Boston in the series finale. Atlanta heads to Cincinnati next.

Newsday