The Sox
get by the Braves with one run
April 25, 2016
...
Craig Kimbrel set down all three batters he faced in the ninth
inning, two by strikeout, and the Sox beat the Braves, 1-0. A short
memory is helpful for a closer, but a 98-mile-per-hour fastball and
sharp curveball are what make Kimbrel special. He struck out both
A.J. Pierzynski and former teammate Freddie Freeman with breaking
pitches after getting ahead with fastballs.
The 10-9
Red Sox have won three of four games on a road trip. The Sox were held to six
hits but one was a home run by Jackie Bradley Jr. in the seventh inning, his
second game-winning hit in as many nights. That was enough for Rick Porcello
(4-0) and three relievers.
First
baseman Hanley Ramirez did not play for the first time this season and David
Ortiz was limited to a pinch-hitting appearance in the ninth inning. Travis Shaw
started at first base with Josh Rutledge at third.
Rick
Porcello traveled ahead of the team and pitched like somebody who enjoyed a full
night of rest. The righthander threw 6 1/3 strong innings, allowing four hits.
He struck out six and walked two to drop his earned run average to 3.51. After
struggling in spring training, Porcello adjusted his arm angle and regained
command of his two-seam fastball. He has struck out 30 and walked five since.
Porcello
even contributed to the offense. He reached on an error in the fifth inning,
hustling down the line and forcing a hurried throw from third baseman Adonis
Garcia. Porcello then reached on a bunt single in the seventh inning. The many
Red Sox fans in the crowd of 22,735 loved it.
Catcher
Christian Vazquez helped out Porcello in the fifth inning, throwing out Jace
Peterson trying to steal second. Vazquez pumped his fist when Pedroia put the
tag on the runner. It marked the first time Vazquez had thrown out a runner in a
major league game since his return from Tommy John surgery.
The Sox
took a 1-0 lead in the seventh, finally getting to Atlanta starter Julio
Teheran. Bradley homered to right with one out, driving a changeup into the
stands for his first home run of the season.
The Braves
put two runners on with one out in the seventh. Robbie Ross Jr. came in for
Porcello and held the lead. Koji Uehara handled the eighth inning, leaving the
lead in Kimbrel's hands.
