Marcell Ozuna delivers run-scoring single in 8th as Braves end 3-game skid, beat Red Sox 4-2

Atlanta Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna gestures after driving in the go ahead run with a base hit in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

ATLANTA (AP) — Marcell Ozuna’s run-scoring single in the eighth inning gave Atlanta the lead and the Braves beat the Boston Red Sox 4-2 on Tuesday night to snap a three-game losing streak.

Boston’s Kutter Crawford and Atlanta’s Reynaldo López each allowed two runs in a matchup of right-handers with ERA’s under 2.00.

The Braves were held to seven hits, so couldn’t proclaim the end of their losing streak to be an awakening for their slumping bats. They were held to a combined six runs while being swept in three games by the Los Angeles Dodgers to end a 1-5 road trip.

Boston Red Sox pitcher Kutter Crawford (50) delivers to an Atlanta Braves batter in the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

“It’s a rough thing to go through,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “We’re not through it yet.”

The Braves again relied on their pitching, including left-hander Aaron Bummer, who struck out Jaren Duran and Rafael Evers to end the sixth after the Red Sox scored two runs off López.

Boston Red Sox’ Rafael Devers reacts after striking out in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

“I got the top of the order out and limited the damage,” Bummer said.

Atlanta right-hander Joe Jiménez (1-0) stranded two runners in the eighth when Adam Duvall made a sliding catch of Tyler O’Neill’s drive toward the left-center gap to end the inning.

Raisel Iglesias pitched a perfect ninth for his ninth save.

With the game tied at 2, Boston right-hander Justin Slaten (2-1) walked Ozzie Albies and gave up a single to Austin Riley to open the eighth. Ozuna bounced a one-out grounder through the infield to drive in Albies. Riley advanced to third on the play and scored on Orlando Arcia’s grounder to first, extending the lead to two runs.

Atlanta Braves’ Jarred Kelenic watches his two-run home run in the third inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Crawford hit Travis d’Arnaud with a pitch in the third inning before Jarred Kelenic pulled a belt-high cutter 368 feet over the high right-field wall for a two-run homer, his first, giving Atlanta a 2-0 lead.

Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo López (40). works against the Boston Red Sox in the first a baseball game Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

It was only the second homer allowed in eight starts for Crawford, each coming in his last two starts.

Crawford (1.56) and López (1.50) began the night ranked among the ERA leaders in the majors for pitchers with at least five starts.

Boston Red Sox pitcher Kutter Crawford (50) delivers to an Atlanta Braves batter in the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

López gave up at least one hit in each of his first five innings, but was effective in pitching out of trouble.

Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr. (13) is safe at first base with a single as the ball gets past Boston Red Sox first base Garrett Cooper (28) in the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

“I loved to see when he got in trouble he was reaching back for 98,” Snitker said of López’s fastball.

Duran was stranded after leading off the game with a double and hitting a one-out triple in the fifth. López struck out Devers and Tyler O’Neill to end the fifth.

López couldn’t overcome three sixth-inning walks, including a bases-loaded pass to Reese McGuire that forced in a run. Ceddanne Rafaela’s infield single off the back of Bummer’s right knee drove in Vaughn Grissom, who reached on shortstop Orlando Arcia’s fielding error, for a 2-2 tie.

Atlanta Braves outfielder Jarred Kelenic (24) gestures was he rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run off Boston Red Sox pitcher Kutter Crawford in the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

TRAINER’S ROOM

Red Sox: OF/DH Masataka Yoshida (left thumb strain), who was placed on the injured list on May 1, will have a second opinion on Wednesday. … RHP Garrett Whitlock (left oblique strain) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment next week.

Boston Red Sox pitcher Kutter Crawford (50) wipes his face in the third inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Braves: LHP Tyler Matzek, who missed the 2023 season following Tommy John surgery on his left elbow, was placed on the 15-day injured list with inflammation in the elbow. The move came after another reliever, RHP Pierce Johnson, landed on the 15-day IL on Sunday with right elbow inflammation. LHP Ray Kerr was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett.

UP NEXT

Atlanta Braves’ Austin Riley follows through on a base hit in the third inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Atlanta LHP Chris Sale (4-1, 3.44 ERA), who pitched for Boston from 2017-23 before being traded to the Braves in a deal that sent Grissom to the Red Sox, will face his former teammates on Wednesday night. Boston RHP Nick Pivetta (right elbow flexor strain) is expected to come off the IL.

Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr. runs to first base after hitting q single in the first inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

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Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker (43) looks on from the dugout during a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Atlanta Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna drives in the go ahead run with a base hit in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Boston Red Sox’ Jarren Duran runs to third base after hitting a triple in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora makes a pitching change in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)