ATLANTA _ You can only push your luck so many times with the Red Sox.
The Braves got out of a bases-loaded jam with no outs in the fourth inning. That was fortunate.
They couldn't expect to get out of a bases-loaded jam with one out in the fifth inning. That was simply too much to ask.
The Red Sox scored three times in the fifth on the way to a 5-1 victory over the Braves on Tuesday night at SunTrust Park. The Braves' lead in the National League East was trimmed to 2-{ games with the Phillies win over the Marlins.
The Red Sox decisive inning chased Braves starter Sean Newcomb after he got in the trouble. Red Sox starter Rick Porcello led off with a single. A walk to Mookie Betts and a single by J.D. Martinez sandwiched a flyout from Ian Kinsler.
Big trouble.
Xander Bogaerts walked in a run to tie the game at 1 and chased Newcomb. Steve Pearce singled in another run and Eduardo Nunez grounded out for two more scores with Shane Carle on in relief.
Newcomb got out of a bases-loaded no-outs jam in the fourth. After a walk to Martinez, a double by Bogaerts and another walk to Pearce, the Red Sox had a major threat. However, Nunez popped out to shortstop, Jackie Bradley was called out on strikes and Sandy Leon flied out to center.
That crisis was averted.
Newcomb went 4-1/3 innings and was charged with the three earned runs. He walked five and struck out two.
The Braves took an early lead with Kurt Suzuki's 10th home run of the season, a two-out solo shot to right center in the bottom of the second inning. Suzuki added a double for two of the Braves' four hits.
The Red Sox also loaded the bases, this time with two outs, in the sixth inning off Luke Jackson. They scored twice more on a two-run single by Pearce.
The Braves lost shortstop Dansby Swanson in the second inning after he was hit in the helmet by an 85 mph pitch from Porcello. Swanson was forced to leave the game even after he got up on his own and began down the first base line after consulting with a trainer. He was replaced by Charlie Culberson.
Kyle Wright made his major league debut as the Braves right-hander entered the game in the seventh inning. The 2017 first-round draft pick was called up on Saturday to be the first player from the draft to make the major leagues. The 22-year old went 8-9 with a 3.46 ERA between Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A Gwinnett. Wright worked a perfect inning, striking out Bradley and Leon. Bradley's bat ended up past first base in foul territory on a swinging third strike. He allowed just a walk in the eighth inning.
The Braves lost the opener of the three-game interleague series by allowing five late runs on Monday. The series concludes Wednesday afternoon.
