2 min read
Payton Tolle delivers a pitch in the first inning of the Red Sox's 3-2 win over the Braves on Saturday in Atlanta. Tolle allowed two runs on four hits in eight innings. (Brynn Anderson/Associated Press)

ATLANTA — Willson Contreras hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning to help the Boston Red Sox beat the Atlanta Braves 3-2 on Saturday night.

Red Sox rookie left-hander Payton Tolle (2-2) gave up two runs over a season-high eight innings, allowing four hits and striking out three. The Red Sox are 15-1 when their starters pitch at least six innings.

Aroldis Chapman moved into a tie for 10th place with his 377th career save. He survived a throwing error with two outs and the bases empty by shortstop Andruw Monasterio, who was in for the injured Trevor Story.

Chapman walked Mauricio Dubón and Michael Harris II to load the bases. Ha-Seong Kim then hit a hard ground ball off Chapman, who scrambled off the mound and tossed the ball to first to end it.

Contreras’ home run came off Bryce Elder (4-2), who gave up seven hits in eight innings and threw a season-high 103 pitches. Contreras knocked in Wilyer Abreu, who doubled with two outs. Abreu was 2 for 4 with a run scored.

Masataka Yoshida’s sacrifice fly scored Mickey Gasper for Boston’s first run in the fourth inning.

Drake Baldwin was 2 for 3 with a home run and two RBI for the Braves. He led off the game with a home run for the second consecutive day, this one traveling 421 feet over the center-field wall. Baldwin’s two-out single in the fifth inning scored José Azócar from second base to break a 1-1 tie.

Up next

Braves right-hander Grant Holmes (2-1, 4.35) was set to start Sunday in the series finale. The Red Sox had not announced a starter.

Join the Conversation

Please your CentralMaine.com account to participate in conversations below. If you do not have an account, you can register or subscribe. Questions? Please see our FAQs.