Chipper Jones and Garrett Anderson backed up Tommy Hanson’s six shutout innings as the Atlanta Braves went on to beat the Boston Red Sox 2-1 in front of 41,463 on a hot and humid day for baseball at Turner Field.
The Red Sox did try to mount a comeback in the 9th inning.
Braves closer Mike Gonzalez gave up a leadoff single to Kevin Youkilis. After a Jason Bay strikeout, David Ortiz grounded into a sure-fire double play. But instead of going to second, Braves second baseman tried to tag Youk, who avoided it. Johnson threw to first to get Big Papi and they got Youk into a pickle. Youk made it back to first base to keep the inning alive for Jason Varitek.
Youk took second on defensive indifference and the came around to score to cut the Braves lead to 2-1. George Kottaras came into pinch-run for the Captain with Jacoby Ellsbury at the plate. Gonzalez got ahead of Ellsbury 0-2 before a fan ran on the field. After a brief delay, Gonzalez struck out Ellsbury on a fastball out of the zone to perserve the 2-1 win.
The Red Sox fall to 46-29 and will hope for the Mets to beat the Yankees tonight to keep their 4-game lead in the AL East. The Braves improve to 35-40. The Red Sox finish up interleague play at 11-7.
Brad Penny made just two mistakes in the game. Of course those two mistakes were the two solo home runs (Jones in the 2nd, Anderson in the 4th). Penny went six innings, allowing the two runs on six hits while striking out two.
Daniel Bard and Takashi Saito each worked a hitless inning with Bard striking out 1. Saito walked one and struck out one in his inning.
Hanson was outstanding this afternoon for the Braves despite battling the effects of the flu. He had good command of his pitches and moved them all over the plate, keeping the Sox hitters at bay. Hanson allowed just two hits and walked two and struck out two.
Eric O’Flaherty, Peter Moylan and Rafael Soriano combined for two innings of hitless ball with O’Flaherty allowing a hit and Soriano recorded a strikeout.
Varitek led the Red Sox with two hits this afternoon and had the only RBI. Youk, Bay and Big Papi had the other hits.
The Red Sox will wrap up their nine game road trip (4-2 so far) starting tomorrow night in Baltimore. Jon Lester will start for the Red Sox and he’ll be opposed by Jason Berken.
Not a fun game to watch but I loved that last almost-rally at the end. And it seems that Youk is working out of his little slump.
I appreciate good pitching but just not when it comes against us. Hanson was impressive and the Sox usually struggle against guys they’re seeing for the first time with the exception of the first two Nationals pitchers..
Youk will be just fine. They all hit a lull at some point. At least they aren’t doing it all at once.