Red Sox rough up Miller, beat Braves

ATLANTA — Clay Buchholz pitched seven strong innings and the Boston Red Sox, after benching third baseman Pablo Sandoval, beat Atlanta 5-2 Thursday night for their second win in 10 games.

Manager John Farrell didn't play Sandoval after the former World Series MVP used his Instagram account Wednesday night during a loss to the Braves. Sandoval apologized to the team before the game, and Farrell said he won't be fined or suspended.

Buchholz (4-6) gave up two unearned runs and six hits. Koji Uehara worked the ninth for his 14th save.

Shelby Miller (5-3) took the loss as the Braves split the four-game, two-city series. He gave up four runs, only one of them earned, in 5 2-3 innings.

The Red Sox ended a seven-game road losing streak, helped when Atlanta third baseman Juan Uribe dropped a routine popup.

Boston led 1-0 in the sixth when Uribe dropped the foul pop by Mookie Betts about 15 feet from home plate. Betts singled two pitches later, then David Ortiz singled to load the bases with no outs.

A run scored on Hanley Ramirez's double-play grounder, Xander Bogaerts hit an RBI single and Alejandro De Aza finished Miller's night with a run-scoring double.

Brock Holt had two hits and a walk, scored three times and made a diving stop on a grounder at second base in the seventh when Atlanta had two runners on base.

The Braves scored two unearned runs in the sixth when A.J. Pierzynski hit a line drive off Buchholz's glove with the bases loaded. Buchholz scrambled after the ball, then overthrew Ortiz at first by trying to throw the ball with his glove hand. Cameron Maybin and Nick Markakis scored on the play.

The start of the game was delayed 45 minutes because of rain.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Red Sox: 2B Dustin Pedroia sat out with inflammation in his left knee. He has missed two of the last three games. Farrell said it was a day-to-day situation and the Red Sox are not considering the disabled list yet. ... Right-hand reliever Heith Hembree was placed on the 15-day DL with shoulder inflammation retroactive to June 15. Hembree had an 8.53 ERA in four relief appearances this season.

Braves: 1B Freddie Freeman missed his first game since Sept. 24, 2013, with a sprained right wrist, ending a streak of 234 straight games - it had been the longest active string in the majors. ... SS Andrelton Simmons returned to the lineup after missing Wednesday's game with a sore hand.

UP NEXT

Red Sox: Rookie Eduardo Rodriguez will look to bounce back from a rough start as the Red Sox open a three-game series at Kansas City. Rodriguez (2-1, 3.55 ERA) allowed nine runs in his third career start on June 14 after back-to-back stellar outings to begin his career. He will be opposed by Yohan Pino, who is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Omaha and make his first start for the Royals.

Braves: The Braves will open a three-game series at home against the NL East-leading Mets. Jacob deGrom (7-4, 2.33 ERA) will start for New York. Gonzalez has not announced who will start for the Braves in place of Mike Foltynewicz, who was sent to Triple-A Gwinnet on Wednesday.

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