Marcell Ozuna is congratulated by third base coach Ron Washington after hitting the first of his three home runs on Tursday during Atlanta’s 10-3 win over the Red Sox in Boston. Mary Schwalm/Associated Press
BOSTON — Marcell Ozuna hit three home runs in a game for the first time in his career and finished with six RBI, leading the Atlanta Braves to a 10-3 rout of the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night.
Ozuna, who was 3 for 5, hit a two-run homer in the first inning, a solo shot in the seventh and a three-run blast in the eighth. It was the eight-year veteran’s second multi-homer effort in the last 10 games and the 10th of his career.
“He’s got a really good idea what he’s doing at the plate,” Braves Manager Brian Snitker said. “He’s been unbelievable for a four-week, five-week span here. That’s got the makings of a really monster 162-game season.”
Ozuna hit his first two homers over the Green Monster in left before launching his last to deep center. Ozuna’s second homer was also his 1,000th career major league hit.
“Yesterday, I get one hit and (Braves assistant trainer) Mike Frostad said ‘Only two more away,’” Ozuna said. “Today when we (got) here, I said ‘I got it.’ … He said ‘Go hit a homer.’ I said ‘I’m gonna try.’”
Austin Riley hit a go-ahead RBI single in the sixth. Ender Inciarte, Dansby Swanson and Freddie Freeman each had an RBI for the Braves.
Atlanta has won two straight after dropping three of five.
Braves right-hander Ian Anderson (2-0) allowed two runs and struck out eight over six innings in his second big league start. The 22-year-old fanned six and took a no-hitter into the sixth in his debut against the New York Yankees last Wednesday before allowing a solo homer in a 5-1 win.
“It was exciting,” said Anderson, who grew up as a Red Sox fan near the Massachusetts state line in Rexford, New York. “Definitely had even more adrenaline than I had the first time. A lot of nerves, too. But (it was) fun out there.”
Alex Verdugo, Rafael Devers and Jackie Bradley Jr. each had RBI singles for Boston. Robert Stock (0-1) gave up two runs on three hits after Red Sox starter Ryan Weber allowed two runs on four hits over four innings.
Boston had won two of three before a 6-3 loss to Atlanta on Monday.
“That game was a lot better game than the score was,” Boston Manager Ron Roenicke said. “It just got out of hand there at the end.”
Riley hit a line-drive single with runners on second and third and nobody out to give the Braves a 3-2 lead. Inciarte beat out an infield single two batters later to double the lead.
Swanson and Freeman each hit RBI singles before Ozuna’s third homer capped Atlanta’s five-run eighth.
“It’s tough – you play hard, you play close and all of a sudden you have a blowout,” Roenicke said.
Devers tied the game at 2-2 with a two-out single in the third after Verdugo’s RBI single two batters prior.
NOTES: Boston DH J.D. Martinez (left hand) received treatment before the game and was expected to be available to pinch hit, but he did not enter the game. … LHP Darwinzon Hernandez (left AC joint sprain) is a few days away from resuming baseball activities.
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