BOSTON - Adam Duvall hit three home runs one night after Marcell Ozuna did it, making them the first teammates in Major League Baseball history to perform the feat in consecutive games as the Atlanta Braves beat the stumbling Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, 7-5, for a three-game sweep in the interleague matchup.
Duvall hit a pair of two-run shots over the Green Monster and a solo blast to center for his five RBIs. Ozuna added a long, tiebreaking solo drive for the Braves, who entered the three-game set winless in their past 15 series (0-12-3) against the Red Sox.
Duvall and Ozuna were the first teammates with three-homer performances in back-to-back games, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
"I didn't know that," Duvall said when he was informed of the historic feat during his postgame interview. "I thought it was (three homers) here. That's pretty neat. That's pretty cool."
On Tuesday, Ozuna became the first National League player ever to hit three homers in Fenway Park. The venue opened in 1912, but the Red Sox are an American League club and interleague play wasn't introduced in MLB until 1997.
"We just met up in here and talked about what we just did," Duvall said. "It's super cool. It's something definitely to take a moment and enjoy it."
It was Atlanta's first sweep in Boston since capturing a three-game set in 2002. Veteran Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman had two hits to extend his hitting streak to 16 games.
"When the big boys get hot, that's what happens," said Braves manager Brian Snitker, whose team remains in first place in the NL East Division, three games ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a solo homer, and J.D. Martinez had two hits and two RBIs for the Red Sox, who fell a season-worst 13 games under .500 as they remain in the AL East cellar.
Ozuna's drive also cleared the Monster, sailing over a billboard and completely out of Fenway against Andrew Triggs (0-2) in the seventh. Duvall's third homer hit off a back wall near the bleachers after his second homer had tied it at 5 against Triggs an inning earlier.
"Unfortunately that we're getting to witness it," Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke said. "They swing the bat. They're on the first fastball you throw them, and they don't get cheated. So they're doing a good job of preparing for what we've got, and when we make a mistake, they don't miss it."
Roenicke was asked before the game how he handles all the losing this season.
"I think the easy way to do this, is to focus to try and get people better," he said. "As long as I'm able to focus on that, the wins and losses don't get to me too much."
AP photo by Charles Krupa / Atlanta Braves teammates Adam Duvall, right, and Austin Riley celebrate after scoring on Duvall's two-run home run off Mike Kickham during the second inning of Wednesday night's game in Boston. The Braves beat the Red Sox 7-5.Tyler Matzek (3-2) got four outs in relief for the victory. Mark Melancon struck out the side in the ninth for his eighth save in nine chances this year.
The Braves tied it at 3 in the second when Duvall hit his first homer and Ozuna added an RBI single.
Bradley's homer pushed the Red Sox ahead 4-3 in the fourth. Martinez's RBI single made it 5-3.
Making just his fourth career start, Braves left-hander Robbie Erlin was tagged for five runs and six hits in four-plus innings.
Right-hander Robinson Leyer became the 12th pitcher to start for the Red Sox in just their 37th game this year. He was the "opener" and fanned two batters in a scoreless inning. The 27-year-old totaled a combined 236 minor league appearances for four organizations before he made his MLB debut Monday, allowing a run with a strikeout.
Braves second baseman Johan Camargo made a nice over-the-shoulder, running catch on Martinez's pop well beyond the infield dirt.
Atlanta outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. was out of the lineup for the third straight game after tightness in his right hamstring forced him out of Sunday's victory.
"He's good. He had a good workout (Tuesday)," Snitker said. "With the off day tomorrow, we just decided to get him the whole series."
Snitker said second baseman Ozzie Albies (right wrist inflammation) could hit some live pitching at the club's alternate training site "in a couple of days."