Chris Sale allows six runs in 4 1/3 innings as Boston falls 7-1
BOSTON — Prized rookie Ronald Acuna Jr. took a high-flying tumble while beating out an infield hit, exiting with knee and lower back pain Sunday as the Atlanta Braves beat the Boston Red Sox 7-1.
Acuna waved his arms “safe” as he crossed the first base bag before his left foot gave out in the seventh inning, and he went sprawling. He walked off the field slowly, passing on a wheel chair that was rolled out for him.
The 20-year-old outfielder also walked and scored a run before leaving.
Mike Foltynewicz took a no-hit bid into the sixth and went seven innings. Tyler Flowers hit a three-run homer off Red Sox ace Chris Sale (5-2), salvaging the finale of a three-game interleague series.
It was just the Braves’ second win in six games, and fourth in their last 14 games at Fenway Park. Boston had won six of seven.
Foltynewicz (4-3) gave up one run on three hits, striking out seven and walking three.
Sale (5-2) was tagged for six runs in 4 1/3 innings. He hadn’t allowed more than three in all 11 of his previous starts this season.
Red Sox star Mookie Betts was a late scratch with left side tightness. Betts entered the day leading the majors with a.359 average and was tied with the Angels’ Mike Trout with 17 homers.
Flowers’ homer – a drive over the Green Monster – made it 3-0 in the second. It was his second homer in his third career at-bat against Sale – his former teammate with the White Sox.
The Braves chased Sale with three runs in the fifth. Freddie Freeman, the last batter he faced, had a two-run double.
Red Sox: Manager Alex Cora originally had 2B Dustin Pedroia out of the lineup, but inserted him in the cleanup spot and at second when Betts was scratched. Pedroia made his season debut Saturday after offseason left knee surgery. Pedroia was hitless in three at-bats and is 0 for 7 this year.
Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies made a leaping grab of Xander Bogaerts’ hard liner in the sixth, getting it barely at the top of his glove while at full extension.
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