Recap: Boston vs. Atlanta

Sports Network | June 21, 2009

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Nick Green's solo home run in the bottom of the ninth lifted Boston to a 6-5 win over Atlanta in the rubber match of a three- game interleague set at Fenway Park.

After the Braves wasted an opportunity with the bases loaded in the top half of the ninth, Green jumped on the first pitch thrown by Atlanta reliever Jeff Bennett (2-4), hooking it inside the right-field foul pole to give Boston the series.

David Ortiz hit a two-run homer for the Red Sox, who are winners in nine of their last 12 games. J.D. Drew, Jason Bay and George Kottaras also knocked in a run.

Boston starter Tim Wakefield was charged with four runs and nine hits in 6 2/3 innings of work.

Yunel Escobar and Martin Prado each recorded three hits for Atlanta, which has dropped eight of 11. Nate McLouth and Garret Anderson both had two hits and drove in a run, while Brian McCann added a two-run double.

Jair Jurrjens made the start for the Braves and allowed five runs -- two earned -- and eight hits over 6 1/3 innings.

The Braves erased a 4-2 deficit with a two-out rally in the seventh. Gregor Blanco's base hit up the middle scored Anderson and moved Prado to second. Ramon Ramirez was beckoned from the bullpen and McLouth greeted the reliever by a stroking a base hit to right that drove in the tying run.

Boston went back up top in the bottom half of the inning as Drew took a pitch the other way, lining it off the base of the wall in left to chase home Kottaras, who doubled to leadoff the frame.

Atlanta knotted the game once again in the eighth on Anderson's RBI single, and Jonathan Papelbon (1-1) pitched out of trouble in the ninth. Papelbon issued a one-out walk to McLouth and Kelly Johnson reached on a fielder's choice two batters later. McCann then walked to load the bases, but Papelbon fanned Matt Diaz to end the threat.

Atlanta plated two runs in the top of the first on a double by McCann, but Boston countered in the home half.

Dustin Pedroia doubled to begin the inning, and Jurrjens' misplay on a dribbler hit by Kevin Youkilis put men on the corners. Bay hit a sacrifice fly and Ortiz followed with a blast over the Green Monster for a 3-2 Red Sox lead.

The fourth inning could have been productive for Boston, which had the bases loaded, but Jurrjens did an excellent job of minimizing the damage to one run on Kottaras' sac fly.

Wakefield is undefeated in 10 straight home starts dating back to a loss on August 31, 2008. He has gone 8-0 during that stretch...Jurrjens is winless in his last four outings (0-3)...Braves manager Bobby Cox and third baseman Chipper Jones were ejected in the bottom of the seventh by home plate umpire Bill Hohn for arguing balls and strikes...Boston placed pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka on the 15-day disabled list with a mild right shoulder strain before the game.