ATLANTA, June 17 (UPI) -- Kevin Youkilis belted a lead-off home run in the first inning Saturday afternoon as Boston beat the Atlanta Braves, 5-3.
David Ortiz, who also homered, had two runs, two hits and two RBI; while winning pitcher Josh Beckett and Trot Nixon each had one hit and an RBI for the Red Sox (38-28), who have won their last two games and are tied with the New York Yankees for first place in the American League East Division.
In six innings, Beckett (8-3) gave up only two runs and three hits with four walks and five strikeouts. Jonathan Papelbon earned his 22nd save.
Andruw Jones had one run, two hits and one RBI; while Edgar Renteria and Jeff Francoeur each had one RBI for the Braves (30-39), who have dropped their last six games.
Losing pitcher Lance Cormier (2-2), recalled from Triple-A Richmond on Friday, surrendered four runs and seven hits in four innings.
