ATLANTA — It was for days like this that the Red Sox traded for Garrett Crochet.
A road trip that felt like a series of punches to the face came to a gratifying end as Crochet stuffed the Braves for seven innings and the Sox came away with a 3-1 victory on Sunday at Truist Park.
Manager Alex Cora left Crochet (5-4) on the mound for a career-high 112 pitches over seven innings, wanting to get the most out of his ace.
“We were going hitter by hitter depending on the situation,” Cora said.
The lefthander rewarded him by striking out the side to end his outing. It enabled the Sox to take two of three from Atlanta after losing three games in Milwaukee.
“Got the job done,” said Crochet, who struck out a season-high 12, walked two, and scattered five hits.
Crochet, who has had to choose his words carefully after some starts this season, was effusive on Sunday. He wants to be a pitcher who can carry the team.
“[Cora] told me let’s keep going and I was fired up,” Crochet said. “If you’re going to send me back out, let me go to work and he did.”
Atlanta’s 23 swings-and-misses were an indication of just how sharp Crochet was.
“When he’s on the mound it feels like we’re going to win,” said Trevor Story, whose three-run double in the first provided all the run support needed.
Feelings aside, the Sox are only 7-6 when Crochet starts, losing four times when he’s allowed two or fewer runs. But this time they did enough.
Crochet, Greg Weissert, and Aroldis Chapman (ninth save) set down 13 of the final 14 Braves to end the game.
“It’s big,” Cora said. “A lot has been made of the Milwaukee series. If we make two pitches, we win two out of three. But that’s the nature of the [season]. There’s no moral victories.”
That’s what makes the actual victories better, especially on the road.
“Now we need more,” Cora said. “We have to be better. I know we’re young, but we expect better from this group. I think the expectations are high for this organization. We’ve got to put everything behind us.”
The Braves recalled righthander Bryce Elder from Triple A Gwinnett to make the start, his first in the majors since May 14.
There were immediate issues.
Rafael Devers doubled to right-center with one out in the first inning. Unlikely cleanup hitter Abraham Toto singled to center field to move Devers to third.
Marcelo Mayer took a five-pitch walk to load the bases before Story drove a sinker 413 feet to center field.
He missed his second home run of the series by inches as the ball hit the yellow border on top of the wall. Still, it was good enough for a three-run double and an early lead for Crochet.
“It felt like we had a big head start in this game,” said Story, who has hit .348 with eight doubles, six home runs, and 18 RBIs in 17 games at Truist.
He has hit .347 with a 1.177 OPS and 41 RBIs in 41 games against the Braves.
“Not sure what it is, but I know I like playing them,” Story said.
The Braves quickly got a run back when Marcell Ozuna homered to right field with two outs in the first inning as Crochet left a fastball up.
But Crochet blanked the Braves from there. He left runners stranded in scoring position in the third, fourth, and fifth innings, coming up with big pitches when needed.
Kristian Campbell, who has been an erratic defender, saved a run in the fourth inning when he made a running backhanded catch of an Eli White popup to keep a runner at third base.
Crochet then struck out Michael Harris II on four pitches to end the inning.
With runners at first and third and two outs in the fifth, Crochet went to a full count against Matt Olson and located a cutter that he grounded to second.
The Braves didn’t threaten again.
The 29-32 Red Sox return to Fenway Park on Monday night to open a three-game homestand against the Angels.
Peter Abraham can be reached at peter.abraham@globe.com. Follow him @PeteAbe.
