The Red Sox returned home to Fenway Park Wednesday night to continue their four game home and home interleague series against the Atlanta Braves. Backed by big nights at the plate from Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz and another strong performance on the mound from Steven Wright, the Sox flew past Atlanta 9-4 for their fourth straight win.
Ortiz doubled in a first inning run, one of three doubles and two RBI on the night to give Boston an early lead and Pedroia hit a second inning grand slam to extend the lead to 6-1. Pedroia later added a solo homer and also had a single in the three hit evening. Atlanta starter Bud Norris only lasted 1.1 innings while falling to 1-4 and giving up six earned runs and seven hits.
Wright (2-2) pitched seven strong innings allowing just three hits, one earned run, three walks and eight strikeouts to lower his season earned run average to 1.37.
Boston (12-9) remains just a half game behind first place Baltimore (12-8) as the Orioles avoided a sweep with a 3-1 win at Tampa Wednesday night.
Boston will go for the four game sweep of Atlanta at 7:10 p.m. Thursday night. Clay Buchholz (0-2, 6.33 ERA) takes the hill for the Sox and will be opposed by Atlanta right hander Jhoulys Chacin (0-1, 3.18).
