ATLANTA (AP) — A new lineup didn't change the sadly familiar outcome for the Braves.
Another loss. Another game without a home run.
Julio Teheran allowed only one run in seven strong innings but a lineup change couldn't spark Atlanta's lineup as the Braves fell to Rick Porcello and the Boston Red Sox 1-0 on Monday night for their fifth straight loss.
The Braves' home-run drought reached 14 games, matching the longest streak in their Atlanta history.
Teheran (0-3) allowed only two hits before giving up a homer to Jackie Bradley Jr. in the seventh.
Manager Fredi Gonzalez tried to get Freddie Freeman rolling by moving the first baseman down three spot to the No. 6 spot in the lineup. It is the first time Freeman hit sixth in a start since 2012. Adonis Garcia hit third and A.J. Pierzynski hit fourth.
Freeman had two hits with a walk, raising his batting average from .177 to .200. One of the hits was a bunt single toward third base against a defensive shift.
"It's the first time I've ever gotten a bunt down," Freeman said. "I was leading off the (fifth) inning. I just wanted to start something and I got it down."
The move down in the order is expected to be temporary.
"Today I saw a different Freddie Freeman," Gonzalez said. "I saw a different look in his eye.
"I think by putting him in that spot it was nice to just have fun, Just play baseball and don't worry about carrying the team. He's not a number six hitter, believe me. We'll get him going and move him back up to the middle of the order where he belongs."
The Braves hit their last home run on April 10 and have only three for the season, easily the fewest in the majors.
The Braves also went 14 games without a homer Sept. 11-26, 1970, their fifth season in Atlanta. They haven't had a longer span without a homer since a 16-game streak in September, 1946, when they were based in Boston, according to STATS.
Porcello (4-0) won his fourth straight start, allowing only four hits with two walks.
Porcello gave up a double to Jeff Francoeur with one out in the seventh and left the game after walking Freeman. Robbie Ross Jr. stranded runners on first and third by striking out pinch-hitter Erick Aybar to end the inning.
Closer Craig Kimbrel, returning to his former Atlanta home, struck out Freeman to cap a perfect ninth for his sixth save — one night after his first blown save.
ONE BAD PITCH
Teheran allowed one run on six hits and three walks in seven innings. He set a season high with eight strikeouts.
"That's the first time I've felt like this this year," Teheran said. "I think that I had everything working today, other than that one mistake that I made in the seventh inning."
TIME FOR A NEW GLOVE
Gonzalez revealed a plan to move Garcia from third base to start in left field against right-handers.
Garcia is hitting .313 but has a team-high seven errors at third base, including a throwing error to first after fielding a grounder by Porcello in the fifth.
Asked what would be his expectation for Garcia's defense in left field, Gonzalez said "Get three hits and drive in four."
The plans will change when OF Ender Inciarte (hamstring) returns from the disabled list in about two weeks.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Red Sox: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (dislocated right kneecap) will make his first rehab assignment on Thursday, but the location is uncertain due to spotty weather forecasts.
UP NEXT
Red Sox: LHP David Price (2-0, 7.06) will try to continue his record of success against Atlanta on Tuesday night. Price is 2-1 with a 1.89 ERA in three starts against the Braves, allowing no more than two runs in each start.
Braves: RHP Matt Wisler (0-1, 3.10) will face the Red Sox for the first time on Tuesday night. Wisler was 0-2 with a 4.24 ERA in three starts against AL teams in 2015.
