BOSTON - Nick Green homered just inside the right-field foul pole on the first pitch of the bottom of the ninth to give the Boston Red Sox a 6-5 win over the Atlanta Braves yesterday.
Facing Jeff Bennett for the first time in his career, the shortstop, who began spring training as a nonroster player but became a regular, hit his fourth homer of the season. His jubilant teammates poured out of the dugout and mobbed him at home plate.
Jonathan Papelbon (1-1) loaded the bases in the ninth but ended the threat by striking out Matt Diaz. Bennett (2-4) was Atlanta's fourth reliever.
In the seventh, Atlanta scored twice to tie the game at 4. Singles by Anderson, Martin Prado and Gregor Blanco produced one run. Ramon Ramirez replaced starter Tim Wakefield and allowed a tying single to Nate McLouth.
J.D. Drew gave Boston a short-lived 5-4 lead with an RBI single in the seventh. Atlanta manager Bobby Cox then came out of the dugout, argued and was thrown out by plate umpire Bill Hohn. So were pitcher Eric O'Flaherty and third baseman Chipper Jones.
It was the major-league leading 145th ejection for Cox and his second of the year. Hall of Famer John McGraw is second with 131.
Atlanta 200 000 210 – 5 14 1
Boston 300 100 101 – 6 10 0
Atlanta AB R H BI Avg. Boston AB R H BI Avg.
McLouth cf 4 1 2 1 .260 Pedroia 2b 4 1 1 0 .286
Y.Escobar ss 5 1 3 0 .292 J.Drew rf 4 0 1 1 .258
C.Jones 3b 3 0 0 0 .297 Youkilis 3b 4 1 1 0 .316
K.Johnson 2b 2 1 1 0 .226 Bay lf 2 0 0 1 .276
McCann dh 4 0 1 2 .325 D.Ortiz dh 4 2 2 2 .213
G.Anderson lf 4 1 2 1 .280 Kotsay 1b 4 0 2 0 .259
1-M.Diaz pr-lf 1 0 0 0 .274 Ellsbury cf 4 0 1 0 .301
Kotchman 1b 4 0 0 0 .268 N.Green ss 3 1 1 1 .293
Prado 2b-3b 4 1 3 0 .277 Kottaras c 2 1 1 1 .246
D.Ross c 4 0 1 0 .295 Totals 31 6 10 6
