Austin Riley hit a three-run homer as the Atlanta Braves routed the Boston Red Sox 8-1 on Sunday, taking two of three in the series and handing Boston its next setback. Grant Holmes pitched six scoreless innings, and the Braves pushed ahead 5-0 early before ad
ATLANTA — Austin Riley’s three-run homer in the first inning set the tone quickly, and the Atlanta Braves kept pouring it on to beat the Boston Red Sox 8-1 on Sunday.
The first-place Braves took two of three from Boston and extended their dominance to a 13th win in 15 series this season. With only one series loss and a split in a four-game set, Atlanta moved further past the Red Sox as Sunday’s rout landed.
Riley finished with a seventh homer of the season, a 431-foot shot that came with two outs. Michael Harris II helped keep the inning alive after hustling to first to beat a relay throw on a potential inning-ending double play.
Boston never managed to steady the game. Mike Yastrzemski hit a leadoff homer in the fourth, and the Braves widened the gap again in the fifth when Riley doubled and came home on Dominic Smith’s single to make it 7-0.
Grant Holmes (3-1) blanked Boston through six innings, allowing five hits and walking one while throwing 87 pitches. Reynaldo López added two more scoreless innings, and Tyler Kinley surrendered the Red Sox’ lone run with two outs in the ninth.
It was another rough outing for Brayan Bello, who had followed two bullpen appearances with improved pitching. Still, as a starter he has now allowed 33 earned runs in 30 1-3 innings.
Offensively, the Braves had another bright moment when Ozzie Albies snapped an 0-for-24 hitless streak, the second longest of his career.
The game also saw a weather interruption. A sudden downpour hit in the top of the sixth, but the tarp was on the infield only briefly before the storm passed. The matchup resumed after a delay of 33 minutes, and Boston catcher Carlos Narváez was lifted because of finger pain.
Boston now turns immediately to the road trip. Monday night, the Red Sox begin a three-game series at Kansas City, with RH Sonny Gray (4-1, 3.18 ERA) facing Royals RH Seth Lugo (1-3, 3.76).
Atlanta continues with its schedule as RH JR Ritchie (1-0, 3.32) takes the mound in Miami for the opener of a four-game series Monday night. The Marlins will counter with RH Max Meyer (3-0, 3.21).
Atlanta Braves Boston Red Sox Austin Riley Grant Holmes Mike Yastrzemski Brayan Bello Carlos Narváez Ozzie Albies series result