BOSTON — Williams Perez pitched six shutout innings and the Atlanta Braves beat the Red Sox 4-2 on Monday night, sending Boston to its seventh straight loss.
Just two days after picking up his first career save in an emergency relief appearance, Perez (3-0) allowed five hits and two walks, striking out two. He has made six major league starts and allowed one run or none in five of them.
Jason Grilli pitched the ninth for his 17th save. He retired David Ortiz on a long flyball before Pablo Sandoval hit his second double of the game with two outs. Mike Napoli reached on an error, and Mookie Betts singled in a run — his third hit of the game — to make it 4-2.
But pinch-hitter Alejandro De Aza grounded weakly back to the mound to end it.
Nick Markakis, Juan Uribe and A.J. Pierzynski each had two of Atlanta's nine singles.
Rick Porcello (4-7) allowed four runs in 6 1-3 innings. The Red Sox were swept in Baltimore and then at home by Toronto and need a win on Tuesday afternoon to avoid a sweep in this two-game interleague series.
Sandoval reached 1,000 career hits and 201 doubles. Dustin Pedroia also had two hits, and Xander Bogaerts hit a solo homer in the seventh.
Porcello walked one and struck out five but also hit a batter and threw two wild pitches. He gave up three straight singles in the fourth and the Braves scored three times.
Freddie Freeman singled with one out, stole second and scored on Markakis' single. Uribe singled, then one out later Markakis scored on a wild pitch. Pierzynski singled to make it 3-0.
Kelly Johnson singled and scored in the seventh to give Atlanta a 4-0 lead before Bogaerts hit his first homer since May 20.
LINEUP SHUFFLING
Braves: Atlanta promoted C Ryan Lavarnway from Triple-A and recalled RHP Sugar Ray Marimon. C Christian Bethancourt and OF Todd Cunningham were optioned to Gwinnett of the International League.
Red Sox: Napoli returned to the lineup after getting two days off to rest. He entered the game batting .200, and was moved to the No. 7 spot in the order. The Red Sox activated LHP Craig Breslow from the paternity list and recalled Robbie Ross Jr. from Triple-A. Infielder Travis Shaw was optioned to Pawtucket and infielder Jeff Bianchi was designated for assignment.
UP NEXT
Braves: Atlanta will put righty Julio Teheran (4-2) on the mound for Tuesday's 4:05 p.m. game. It's his first time ever facing the Red Sox.
Red Sox: Lefty Wade Miley (5-6) will make his first start since having a screaming match with manager John Farrell in the dugout during Thursday's game against Baltimore.
