EditorsNote: changes Martin's pitch count to four; minor edits
The visiting Boston Red Sox concluded a disappointing season with a power surge, belting four home runs to defeat the Atlanta Braves 9-1 on Sunday.
Boston (24-36) finished in last place in the American League East and announced interim manager Ron Roenicke would not return for the 2021 season.
Atlanta (35-25) lost two of three games in the final series, but had already won the NL East and secured the No. 2 seed for the playoffs. The Braves will host Cincinnati in the first round of the playoffs.
Boston got solo home runs from Jackie Bradley Jr., Xander Bogaerts and Jonathan Arauz, the first of his career. J.D. Martinez hit a two-run opposite-field homer to start a five-run uprising in the seventh that put the game out of reach.
The winning pitcher was Nick Pivetta (2-0), who worked five innings and allowed one run on four hits, two walks and five strikeouts. Pivetta last faced the Braves on Aug. 10 as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies and was roasted for six runs in 1/3 of an inning.
Atlanta's Marcell Ozuna fell short in his bid to become the first National League player to win the Triple Crown since Joe "Ducky" Medwick in 1937. Ozuna hit a solo homer, his 18th, and finished with 56 RBIs -- both NL league-leading totals. He went 2-for-4, but his average of .338 fell short of the .351 posted by Washington's Juan Soto.
Atlanta's Freddie Freeman went 1-for-4 and finished second in the batting race at .341. He had 53 RBIs, second behind Ozuna.
Atlanta starter Bryse Wilson went three innings and allowed one run on five hits, two walks and two strikeouts. Will Smith (2-2) took the loss after allowing a solo homer in the fourth, ending a six-game string of scoreless appearances.
The Braves played without center fielder Ronald Acuna Jr., who was a late scratch with left wrist irritation. They were already resting third baseman Austin Riley (right quad). Both will be available for the postseason.
But Atlanta may have lost reliable reliever Chris Martin, who left after throwing four pitches because of a right groin injury. He is day-to-day.
--Field Level Media
