ATLANTA — Instant reactions as the Red Sox (29-32) leave Truist Park with a win, taking two of three from the Braves behind a 3-1 win in which Garrett Crochet set a season-high in strikeouts and Trevor Story had another big hit:
1) It was something of a laborious start for Crochet, who was at times electric, at others unlucky and had to really battle to get out of jams. But the line was similar to what he always gives the Red Sox. Crochet allowed a single run on five hits in seven innings, recording a career-high 12 strikeouts.
Crochet was at 99 pitches through six innings but with 8-9-1 in Atlanta’s lineup due up, Alex Cora stuck with him. He was rewarded with three strikeouts on 13 pitches. His 112 pitches represented the most of his season (and career). He did have a 13-strikeout day in Seattle last June.
2) The two biggest at-bats of Crochet’s day? A strikeout of Michael Harris II with two men in scoring position in the fourth and a Matt Olson groundout with two men on in the fifth. Crochet held the Braves to 1-for-6 line with men in scoring position (and a run didn’t score on the hit).
3) Story could have easily left Atlanta with three homers in three games. The ledger will read that he had one (Friday) but after narrowly missing one to center Saturday, he came even closer in the first inning Sunday when he smoked a Bryce Elder pitch off the top of the wall. He missed a homer by inches but still took home a three-run double that was enough for the Red Sox on a Crochet Day.
Story had two hits in the finale, at 105.5 mph and 109.3 mph (a sixth-inning single). The good signs the Red Sox saw in Milwaukee turned into results as Story’s offense powered two wins.
4) With Justin Slaten unavailable after hitting the injured list with shoulder inflammation before the game, Cora turned to Greg Weissert for the eighth. The sidearmer was quietly excellent in May (2.08 ERA) and could get eighth-inning opportunities with Slaten out.
Weissert pitched a 1-2-3 ninth before handing things off to Aroldis Chapman, who walked around a one-out walk to seal things. It was his first save since May 20.
Cora and a team trainer visited Chapman with one out in the ninth but kept him in the game. His velocity was down a bit.
5) The first-inning rally, spurred by a Rafael Devers one-out double, then an Abraham Toro single and Marcelo Mayer walk to load the bases for Story, was about all Boston could do Sunday in the batter’s box. They had consistent traffic but also a lot of strikeouts in key spots.
6) Marcell Ozuna has never played in the American League, yet still owns the Red Sox. His first-inning blast off Crochet was his 11th in just 24 career games against Boston (and third of the year after he took both Lucas Giolito and Sean Newcomb deep at Fenway in mid-May).
7) Jarren Duran was 0-for-5 and finished 0-for-Atlanta, going hitless in 14 plate appearances here. Quietly, he’s in an 0-for-16 rut, but he keeps putting the ball in play (only two strikeouts in the span). Lots of choppers to second base, though.
8) For a day at least, the Red Sox paused the Kristian Campbell-to-first base train so that they could keep the hot-hitting Toro in the lineup at first base. His two hits put his average at .310 this year.
9) Crochet now is tied for the major league lead in strikeouts with 101 (Washington’s MacKenzie Gore has the same number). Crochet leads baseball in innings (82). The Red Sox had lost four of his last five starts, including three in a row. They’re 7-6 when he pitches so far.
10) The Red Sox will make a three-day pit stop at home before heading to the Bronx next weekend for their first series against the Yankees this year. The Angels, who were a game above .500, await. Here’s the schedule:
Monday, 7:10 p.m. ET — LHP Tyler Anderson (2-2, 3.39 ERA) vs. RHP Richard Fitts (0-2, 2.70 ERA)
Tuesday, 7:10 p.m. ET — LHP Yusei Kikuchi (1-5, 3.06 ERA) vs. RHP Brayan Bello (2-1, 3.83 ERA)
Wednesday, 1:35 p.m. ET — RHP José Soriano (4-5, 3.41 ERA) vs. RHP Lucas Giolito (1-1, 4.78 ERA)
