Buchholz, Red Sox struggle in 5-3 loss to Braves

BOSTON (AP) - Clay Buchholz struggled with his control when he needed it most and his teammates' timing wasn't much better.

Boston struggled just about everywhere and Atlanta capitalized with a 5-3 victory over the Red Sox on Thursday night.

Buchholz (0-3) allowed five runs, eight hits and four walks in 6 1/3 innings, raising his ERA to 6.51. Buchholz said he struggled with his control of his fastball and the Braves took advantage to snap an eight-game losing streak.

"I don't mind walking guys in situations," Buchholz said. "But when you're out there trying to throw a strike - trying to throw the ball down the middle and you don't do it, it's frustrating."

It was that kind of night for the Red Sox, who couldn't quite finish off sweeping the interleague series, which included two games in each city.

"It happens like that sometimes. When you do walk guys, you try to minimize the damage," Buchholz said. "I didn't do a very good job of that tonight."

Nick Markakis had three singles, a double and three RBIs for the Braves, while Mallex Smith doubled twice and had an RBI single. Jhoulys Chacin (1-1) was effective enough over five-plus innings to get his first win since signing with Atlanta as a free agent.

Five pitchers combined for four-hit relief, with Arodys Vizcaino getting three outs for his second save.

Boston's Hanley Ramirez had an RBI single in the first inning and drove in another with a double in the third. The Red Sox didn't score again until Dustin Pedroia's RBI single with two outs in the ninth.

Markakis led off the game with a double, then drove in two runs with a single in a three-run third, when Smith had an RBI double. Markakis' single made it 4-1 in the fourth.

RIVALRY WEEKEND

Just as the struggling Braves were leaving town, the Red Sox were preparing to host the New York Yankees in the first series of the storied rivalry this season.

"It's always a spectacle, a focal point. The rivalry is always there," manager John Farrell said. "Regardless of where people are in the standings it always brings something out that's different - that you feel in the dugout, feel in the ballpark, the electricity that surrounds it."

TRAINER'S ROOM

Braves: RHP Bud Norris (1-4, 8.74 ERA) may come out of the rotation before his next scheduled start. Norris lasted just 1 1/3 innings Wednesday. "We're still hashing through that and talking though that kind of stuff to see what's best for him, and what's best for us," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "But I think the No. 1 priority is to get him fixed."

Red Sox: LF Brock Holt was out of the starting lineup after going 1 for 12 in the first three games against the Braves and failing to reach base for the first time this season on Wednesday. Holt pinch hit for Chris Young in the eighth inning Thursday and grounded out.

UP NEXT

Braves: RHP Aaron Blair (0-1, 5.06 ERA) is set to start for the Braves when they open a weekend series at Chicago against Cubs' LHP Jon Lester (2-1, 1.98).

Red Sox: LHP Henry Owens (0-0, 8.10) makes his second start of the season as the Red Sox face the Yankees.