5 things to know about the Braves’ third consecutive loss

Braves pitcher Sean Newcomb started against the Red Sox Saturday at the ballpark he grew up going to see games as a kid in suburban Boston. (Video by David O’Brjen)

BOSTON – Five things to know about the Braves’ 8-6 loss to the Red Sox on a muggy, sunny Saturday afternoon before a sellout crowd of 36,510 at Fenway Park.

1. The Red Sox have won eight of 10 and improved to a season-best 20 games over .500 (36-16), becoming the sixth team to win at least 36 of their first 52 games this century. The others were the 2017 Astros, the 2016 Cubs, the Red Sox in 2002 and 2007, and the 2001 Mariners.

2. The third consecutive loss for the Braves (29-21) matched their season-high skid May 4-6 when they got swept by the Giants. The Braves have lost four of five on the current six-game trip, after winning 11 of their previous 12 road games.

3. The Braves have lost six of their past seven against the Red Sox and are 9-26 against them since 2005.

4. Dansby Swanson went 2-for-4 with a single and home run for the Braves shortstop's 11th multi-hit game of the season and first in his eight games played since May 1. He was 4-for-24 with no walks and 11 strikeouts in the seven games in-between those two-hit games. Swanson gave the Braves a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer in the second inning and has hit .377 (23-for-61) with runners on base this season.

5. Freddie Freeman went 2-for-5 and needs three hits to pass Javy Lopez (1,148) for fifth-most hits in Atlanta franchise history. Freeman has hit .386 (22-for-57) with four homers, 10 RBIs and a .470 OBP in his past 15 games.