The Boston Red Sox picked up a 4-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves at JetBlue Park on Tuesday in spring training action. Carlos Narváez paced the offense, going 1-for-3 with two RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. On the mound, Sonny Gray turned in a solid outing, working 3.1 innings of 2-run ball with three strikeouts. The Braves out-hit the Sox 9-6 on the day. It was an encouraging performance for the Sox as they continue sharpening the roster for the regular season. Games like these serve as a valuable measuring stick for where the team stands heading into the campaign.
Key Performers
Carlos Narváez was the standout at the plate, going 1-for-3 with two RBI. He put together quality at-bats throughout the game. It was the kind of day at the plate that suggests good things ahead for the Sox offense.
Nate Eaton added to the attack, going 1-for-3 with two RBI, Trevor Story provided support, going 2-for-3 with a triple, and Caleb Durbin also contributed, going 1-for-3 with a double. It was a balanced attack that kept the pressure on from the first pitch to the last.
On the other side of the diamond, Brett Wisely led the Braves offense with a 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI day. Kyle Farmer also contributed, going 1-for-4 with an RBI. Jordan Groshans added a 1-for-1 with an RBI effort as well. Despite those contributions, the Sox pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.
On the Mound
Sonny Gray got the start, grinding through his innings, working 3.1 innings while allowing 2 earned runs on 4 hits with three strikeouts. He threw 70 pitches in the outing. His outing provided the coaching staff with another data point as rotation and bullpen decisions loom.
The bullpen combined for 5.2 innings of work, allowing 1 earned run while striking out seven. The relief corps did its job in protecting the lead after the starter departed. Managing the bullpen workload is a key priority during the spring, and every outing helps the coaching staff gauge who is ready for high-leverage situations. Kyle Keller recorded the save to close out the game.
Among the relievers, Payton Tolle stood out with 4.0 innings of scoreless work, striking out five. The outing gave the coaching staff confidence in his ability to contribute this season.
How It Happened
Braves got on the board first with two runs in the third inning. The Sox responded with three runs in the fourth. The Sox pushed across a run in the sixth. Braves struck back with a run in the ninth. Braves out-hit the Sox 9-6, with both teams playing clean defense. A crowd of 9,601 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
It was a productive day for the Sox, who continue to put the pieces in place ahead of the regular season. The coaching staff will take the positives from this outing and use the remaining spring games to finalize the roster. Days like this one suggest the Sox are heading in the right direction as Opening Day draws closer.