Red Sox get a Braves bashing 11-3; Buchholz shaky

The Atlanta Braves came to Jet Blue Park and vaporized the Red Sox pitching staff. Warning: Reading the pitching stats depict hitting violence. Those clamoring for an “Ace” please use caution. And don’t exempt the Red Sox defense which accounted for four errors. Final score was 11-3.

Clay Buchholz picked up where Wade Miley, Justin Masterson, Joe Kelly et al have been lately. Buchholz was in mid-2014 season form allowing four runs in his four innings on five hits. The real bright spot was no walks and six K’s including a gem of a curve on old Hacksaw himself – Jonny Gomes.

Matt Barnes was next to get roughed up for a two runs in his inning of work, but he looked like vintage Pedro Martinez compared to Brandon Workman, who finished his inning allowing four runs (3 earned) on four hits with a walk and a strikeout. Mitchell Boggs, hanging on for MLB life, did his career no favors with an inning that saw “only” a lone run on two hits.

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Digging for a bright spot is like trying to find a bottle cap in the Marianas Trench, but just say Mookie Betts, who had two hits, and Allen Craig with a faux Pesky Pole home run to right. In the books no one knows if it’s 450’ or 320’.

In the first inning the Braves wasted no time in getting the rug pulled from under Buchholz.

Doubles by Christian Bethancourt and Jace Peterson were followed by a single by Andrelton Simmons to give Atlanta a 2-0 lead. Buchholz did manage a pair of strikeouts.

The Red Sox wasted an opportunity in the bottom of the first. A Betts double and Pablo Sandoval single were followed by a Hanley Ramirez strikeout and a caught stealing on Panda. A run would have to wait a bit longer.

In the fourth the Braves bounced Buchholz around some more.

A Bethancourt double and a poor fielding decision put runners on second and third with no outs. With one out Ramirez made a nice running catch for a sac fly, but Kelly Johnson had a ground rule double to center for another Braves run and a 4-0 lead. Buchholz was done and so were the Red Sox.

For the Braves their starter Shelby Miller, last seen in St. Louis, did a credible performance going five innings and allowing seven hits. Miller was touched for the Craig long ball, but also had three K’s to go with two walks.

With the seventh inning in bloom it was official garbage time or let’s get to the buffet ASAP. Both lineup cards now extended several pages as substitutions galore were taking place. Welcome to spring training!

Xander Bogaerts banged out a double and Brock Holt and Jeff Bianchi contributed singles and the Red Sox had another run and Felipe Paulino ready to join in the pitching massacre in the top of the eighth. Paulino, owner of a career 5.22 ERA, actually managed some pitching triage and escaped the wrath of the Braves line-up and had a clean inning.

In the last of the eighth another bright spot surfaced for those at Jet Blue who were still paying attention. Bryce Brentz, formerly high on the Red Sox prospect list, hit his second home run of the spring.

As both teams rolled into the ninth it appeared more of a contest between the Gwinnett Braves and the Pawtucket Red Sox. The Red Sox brought out Zeke Spruill. For those not wiping sun screen from their eyes they witnessed a 1-2-3 inning.

Tomorrow the Red Sox remain at Jet Blue Park to face the Twins.