Pedro Ciriaco finished with three hits and two RBI to power the Atlanta Braves past the Boston Red Sox, 5-2, on Wednesday.
Nick Markakis scored twice and drove in a run, while Cameron Maybin and A.J. Pierzynski also brought in a run for the Braves, who split the first two games of their interleague series at Fenway Park.
Nick Masset (2-1) earned the win after tossing a scoreless seventh inning. Starter Alex Wood surrendered just two runs -- one earned -- on five hits with seven strikeouts over six-plus frames.
Mike Napoli homered and Xander Bogaerts and Pablo Sandoval each had two hits for the Red Sox, who have lost eight of their last nine games.
Starter Joe Kelly didn't factor into the decision. He allowed two runs over five-plus innings on the mound and chipped in offensively with an RBI single.
The Braves went ahead with a two-run seventh inning.
Maybin hit a one-out single off Junichi Tazawa (0-3), pinch-hitter Daniel Castro, making his MLB debut, followed in similar fashion to place runners on the corners and Markakis hit a grounder past a diving Bogaerts into left for an RBI single.
Juan Uribe was issued a free pass to load the bases and following a force out at home, Tommy Layne walked Pierzynski to give the Braves a 4-2 lead.
Maybin hit an RBI single in the eighth, scoring Jonny Gomes, who worked a leadoff walk against Craig Breslow.
Jason Grilli worked around a leadoff single in the ninth to earn his 18th save of the season.
The Red Sox opened the scoring in the fourth. Hanley Ramirez singled, Sandoval reached on Uribe's fielding error and Blake Swihart worked a two-out walk to load the bases. Kelly's infield single plated Ramirez for a 1-0 lead.
In the home half, Uribe opened with a single, moved to second on a groundout and tied the game after Dustin Pedroia kicked Ciriaco's grounder into right field.
Napoli crushed a changeup into the left-field seats to give the Red Sox a 2-1 lead in the sixth, but the Braves answered in the bottom half.
Markakis walked and Uribe singled to chase Kelly. Robbie Ross Jr. struck out Kelly Johnson and got Pierzynski to hit into a fielder's choice to place runners on the corners with two outs. Alexi Ogando took the mound and gave up an RBI single to Ciriaco for a 2-2 game.
Game Notes
Prior to the game, the Braves selected the contract of Castro and optioned pitcher Mike Foltynewicz to Triple-A Gwinnett ... Atlanta shortstop Andrelton Simmons sat out a second straight game with a sore hand ... The Red Sox went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base.
[SportsNetwork.com]
