Porcello best of show again

ATLANTA — Rick Porcello has saved his best stuff for the best teams often this season.

Last night was no exception.

Porcello (16-7) allowed just one run on two hits — one was a second-inning home run to Kurt Suzuki — in his five innings of work in the Red Sox’ 5-1 win over the Braves.

Steve Pearce had three singles and drove in three runs.

The Red Sox can sweep the Braves with a win this afternoon.

Porcello has made four starts since the All-Star break in which he has allowed one run or fewer. One of those came against the Orioles, but the other three were against the Yankees, Phillies and the NL East-leading Braves.

As he did earlier this season, Porcello made the most of his interleague atbats as well. On July 2 in Washington, he hit a threerun double off Max Scherzer. Last night he led off the fifth inning with a single to right field off starter Sean Newcomb and came around to score when the left-hander from Brockton became unglued. Newcomb walked Mookie Betts, and one out later, allowed a single to J.D. Martinez and a bases-loaded walk to Xander Bogaerts that brought Porcello home with the tying run.

Right-hander Shane Carle replaced Newcomb and gave up a go-ahead single to Pearce and a run-scoring groundout to Eduardo Nunez to give the Sox a 3-1 lead.

After hitting Preston Tucker with a pitch — he also hit Dansby Swanson square in the helmet in the second inning, forcing the Braves shortstop to leave the game — Porcello retired the top of the Braves order in the fifth to preserve the lead.

In the sixth, the Red Sox resumed their attack. Rafael Devers pinch-hit for Porcello and drew a walk. With two outs and the bases loaded, Pearce drove in two runs with his third single of the game.

Making his second appearance in as many days, Steven Wright escaped the sixth inning without allowing any runs despite allowing a double and a walk. Joe Kelly, Ryan Brasier and Heath Hembree each worked a scoreless inning to close it out.