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Duvall follows Ozuna with 3 HRs; Braves complete sweep

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Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Boston Red Sox pitcher Mike Kickham (74) watches as Atlanta Braves' Adam Duvall, center, rounds the bases on Duvall's two-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game, Wednesday Sept. 2, 2020, in Boston. At left is Braves Austin Riley. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

BOSTON ā€“ Adam Duvall hit three home runs a night after teammate Marcell Ozuna did it, making them the first teammates in major league history to perform the feat in consecutive games as the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves beat the stumbling Boston Red Sox 7-5 Wednesday night for a three-game sweep.

Duvall hit a pair of two-run shots over the Green Monster and a solo blast to center for his five RBIs. Ozuna added a long, tiebreaking solo drive for the Braves, who entered the three-game set winless in their last 15 series (0-12-3) against the Red Sox.

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Duvall and Ozuna were the first teammates with three-homer performances in back-to-back games, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

ā€œI didnā€™t know that,ā€ Duvall said when he was informed of the historic feat during his postgame interview. "I thought it was (three homers) here. Thatā€™s pretty neat. Thatā€™s pretty cool.ā€

On Tuesday, Ozuna became the first NL player to hit three homers in a game at Fenway Park.

ā€œWe just met up in here and talked about what we just did,ā€ Duvall said. ā€œItā€™s super cool. It's something definitely to take a moment and enjoy it.ā€

It was Atlantaā€™s first sweep in Boston since capturing a three-game set in 2002. Freddie Freeman had two hits to extend his hitting streak to 16 games.

ā€œWhen the big boys get hot, that's what happens,ā€ Braves manager Brian Snitker said.

Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a solo homer and J.D. Martinez had two hits and two RBIs for the Red Sox, who fell a season-high 13 games under .500.

Fenway was built in 1912, but the Red Sox are an AL club and interleague play wasnā€™t introduced in MLB until 1997.

Ozunaā€™s drive also cleared the Monster, sailing over a billboard and completely out of Fenway against Andrew Triggs (0-2) in the seventh. Duvallā€™s third homer hit off a back wall near the bleachers after his second homer had tied it at 5 against Triggs an inning earlier.

ā€œUnfortunately that weā€™re getting to witness it,ā€ Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke said. ā€œThey swing the bat. Theyā€™re on the first fastball you throw them, and they donā€™t get cheated. So theyā€™re doing a good job of preparing for what weā€™ve got, and when we make a mistake they donā€™t miss it.ā€

Tyler Matzek (3-2) got four outs in relief for the victory. Mark Melancon struck out the side in the ninth for his eighth save in nine chances.

The Braves tied it at 3 in the second when Duvall hit his first homer, and Ozuna added an RBI single.

Bradleyā€™s pushed the Red Sox ahead 4-3 in the fourth. Martinezā€™s RBI single made it 5-3.

Making just his fourth career start, Braves lefty Robbie Erlin was tagged for five runs and six hits in four-plus innings.

WHOā€™S NEXT?

RHP Robinson Leyer became the 12th different pitcher to start for the Red Sox in just their 37th game. He was the ā€œopenerā€ and fanned two in a scoreless inning.

The 27-year-old Leyer made 236 minor league appearances over four organizations before he made his MLB debut Monday, allowing a run with a strikeout.

NICE GRAB

Braves 2B Johan Camargo made a nice over-the-shoulder, running catch on Martinezā€™s pop well beyond the infield dirt.

POSITIVE THOUGHTS

Roenicke was asked before the game how he handles all the losing this season.

ā€œI think the easy way to do this, is to focus to try and get people better,ā€ he said. ā€œAs long as Iā€™m able to focus on that, the wins and losses donā€™t get to me too much.ā€

TRAINERā€™S ROOM

Braves: OF Ronald AcuƱa Jr. was out of the lineup for the third straight game after tightness in his right hamstring forced him out of Sundayā€™s victory. ā€œHeā€™s good. He had a good workout (Tuesday),ā€ Snitker said. ā€œWith the off day tomorrow, we just decided to get him the whole series.ā€ ā€¦ Snitker said 2B Ozzie Albies (right wrist inflammation) could hit some live pitching at the clubā€™s alternate training site ā€œin a couple of days.ā€

Red Sox: DH/OF Martinez returned to the lineup and played left field. He missed the last two games after getting hit on the left hand by a fastball. ā€¦ Roenicke said RHP Nathan Eovaldi (calf tightness) played catch and will throw a bullpen Thursday, but probably not start Saturday when heā€™s eligible to come off the IL. ā€œMaybe push him back a day or so,ā€ Roenicke said. ā€¦ Placed LHP Kyle Hart on the 10-day injured list with a left hip impingement.

UP NEXT

Braves: Off Thursday.

Red Sox: Open a five-game series against the Blue Jays in Fenway Thursday. LHP MartĆ­n PĆ©rez (2-4, 4.58 ERA) is slated to go for Boston against RHP Taijuan Walker (3-2, 3.27).

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