Arroyo’s grand slam elevates Red Sox

ATLANTA – Christian Arroyo pinch-hitting a grand slam in the seventh to put Boston in front and the fiery Red Sox defeated the Atlanta Braves 10-8 on Wednesday night to move closer to a first-place game.

Boston rallied after blowing a 6-3 lead. Freddie Freeman homered to put Atlanta ahead in the sixth inning after Dansby Swanson’s three-run homer equalized the score in the fifth inning.

The Red Sox moved one game behind Tampa Bay – which fell 8-7 to the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night – in the contest for the top of the AL East. Boston was 15 games above .500, its best record of the season, with its third consecutive victory and fifth in the last seven games.

Adam Ottavino conceded an Ronald Acuña Jr. RBI double in the ninth inning. The Venezuelan was retired on third base and Ottavino struck out Freeman to sign his fourth save.

The Red Sox loaded the bases off Shane Greene (0-1) in the seventh inning. Greene struck out Bobby Dalbec for the second out of the inning before left-hander AJ Minter came in relief and allowed Arroyo’s fourth home run of the season, a slam into the left field stands.

Yacksel Ríos (1-0) got an out in the sixth inning for the win after being added to the roster before the game. Rios, 27, was acquired Monday in a trade with Seattle.

Hunter Renfroe hit a two-run single in the first inning and Xander Bogaerts had three doubles as part of Boston’s 14-hitter offense.

For the Red Sox, Rafael Devers 3-1 with one RBI and one scored. The Venezuelan Marwin González 5-1. Mexican Alex Verdugo 5-1 with a run scored. Puerto Rican Christian Vázquez 3-1 with a run scored.

For the Braves, the Venezuelans Acuña Jr. 5-3 with an RBI; Ender Inciarte 1-0 with an RBI; Ehire Adrianza 1-0; Pablo Sandoval 1-0. Dominican Abraham Almonte 3-2 with an RBI and a run scored. Cuban Guillermo Heredia 4-2 with two runs scored.

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