One sequence Wednesday night showed just how badly things are going for the Braves.
In the eighth inning Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia hit a pop up to foul territory along the first-base line. Braves third baseman Daniel Castro started for it, but then stopped. So did catcher A.J. Pierzynski.
The two looked at one another as the ball dropped between them. Pierzynski appeared frustrated and Castro sheepish as they went back to their respective positions. And then Pedroia hit Braves reliever Jason Grilli’s next pitch over Fenway Park’s famed Green Monster in left field.
That was the final run for the Red Sox in their 9-4 victory that sent the Braves to their eighth consecutive loss. The Braves (4-17) set a franchise record for April with four more games to play this month.
“It’s really hard to put into words,” Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman said. “Lose the first nine, then win four, then lose eight in a row. It’s kind of a weird start to our season. It’s a start we didn’t want. We’ve just got to start playing better baseball and hopefully win some games. It’s not fun right now.”
There were a few positives for the Braves in Wednesday’s game. Freeman hit his first homer since opening day and ended a franchise-record run of 15 games without a home run for the Braves. Pierzynski singled to become the 10th catcher with 2,000 career hits. Nick Markakis hit another double after he entered tied for the most in the majors.
All of that is overshadowed by the Braves losing again.
“You keep grinding,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “I feel like the guy serving at the Publix deli and you’ve got to take a number. You bring guys in (the office) and you talk to them individually and pump them up and you coach then all up and do that stuff. We will continue doing that. We’ve got to do that and get out of this funk that we are in.”
