Clay Buchholz struggles against bottom of lineup in Red Sox’s loss to Braves

11:24 PM ET

BOSTON — It’s bad enough to be the pitcher who gives up five runs to a team that hasn’t scored more than four in a game since April 19. But it’s even worse come undone against the bottom of that team’s meager batting order.

Clay Buchholz was guilty on both counts Thursday night.

Facing the lowly Atlanta Braves, Buchholz allowed Jace Peterson, Erick Aybar and Mallex Smith — the 7-8-9 hitters who entered with a combined .158 average and .201 on-base percentage — to reach base seven times in nine plate appearances against him at Fenway Park. Between them, they scored every Braves run in a 5-3 victory that spoiled the Boston Red Sox’s chance for a rare four-game sweep of a home-and-home interleague series.

Buchholz walked .200-hitting Peterson three times and gave up a bunt single to .152-hitting Aybar in the …

continue reading in source espn.go.com