The Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox appear to be headed in opposite directions with their respective seasons. The Braves have been struggling to swing the bats while their pitching looked rock solid. However, over the past week they have gotten the offense moving and the wins are coming. The Red Sox are frustrated as they approach their longest losing streak in 20 years. Can the team turn things around with a road stretch at Turner Field?
Boston has no offense at the moment as they sit at the bottom of the American League after losing 10 straight games. The team is hitting just .212 as a unit while getting outscored by opponents 52-26 . The Red Sox are slowly approaching their 11-game losing streak from 1994 and playing the National League East leading Braves could push the team over the edge.
Things came to a boiling point on Sunday during their loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. Jonny Gomes hit a game-tying two-run home run in the seventh inning. Yunel Escobar took third on a defensive indifference when tempers flared and benches cleared after Boston's David Ross began yelling as Escobar after the move. Both Escobar and Gomes were ejected.
The Red Sox stand a chance against Ervin Santana who is coming off back-to-back struggling starts. The pitcher has an 8.25 ERA in his last two starts and allowed six runs over seven innings in the loss to the Brewers. Against Boston he is 4-3 with a 4.50 ERA in 13 games.
Boston will send Clay Buchholz to the mound who is 2-4 with a 6.32 ERA on the season. He has also seen his recent struggles after giving up five runs and nine hits to the Blue Jays. He has a 7.80 ERA in his past three starts so this game could be offensive blowout if both pitchers do not step up.
The Braves have been moving the bats lately which could help. Evan Gattis is coming off an multi-home run game while Justin Upton and Chris Johnson are succeeding as well. They have won six of their last eight, showing plenty of improvement in recent games.
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