BOSTON - Brock Holt became the first Boston player to hit for the cycle since 1996 and the Red Sox slugged their way out of a seven-game losing streak with a 9-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday.
Holt's solo homer in the seventh put Boston up 5-2, leaving him a triple from completing the cycle. He got another at-bat in the eighth after Boston added two more runs and hit a fly ball to the triangle in center field at Fenway Park. Holt easily reached third and drove in a run.
It was the first cycle in the majors this season and the first for the Red Sox since John Valentin did it on June 6, 1996 against the White Sox in Boston.
Wade Miley tied his season high with eight strikeouts in 6 1/3 solid innings. It was his first start since getting pulled early and arguing with manager John Farrell in the dugout Thursday in a loss at Baltimore.
Miley (6-6) took a little heat off Boston's embattled manager by helping the Red Sox out of their longest losing streak of the season. Miley scattered five hits and allowed two runs and walked two before leaving with one out and a 5-2 lead in the seventh.
Miley had plenty of offensive support from Holt and Alejandro De Aza. Holt had four of Boston's 18 hits and De Aza drove in three runs on two hits in the first win for the Red Sox since June 7 against Oakland.
The Red Sox tagged Atlanta starter Julio Teheran (4-3) with six earned runs and 13 hits over 6 1/3 innings.
Juan Uribe had three hits for the Braves.