BOSTON -- On the back of rookie starter Connelly Early, the Boston Red Sox improved to 23-31 and snapped their four-game losing streak on Wednesday night with an emphatic 8-0 win over the Atlanta Braves. 

After facing Atlanta just 12 days ago, it would have been fair to expect an offense as good as the Braves to review the film and put up much more production, especially against a rookie. Instead, the 24-year-old lefty continued to build on his incredible campaign, shutting down the Atlanta offense over seven shutout innings.

"Any lineup is tough to face back-to-back, especially with how they've been swinging it," Early said of facing the Braves lineup for the second time in as many weeks. "My stuff was a little better this time," he continued. 

Early danced in and out of trouble throughout the start, allowing baserunners to reach in six of the seven innings he pitched and having to work around three walks. He was able to do so, thanks in part to 12 whiffs, resulting in seven strikeouts. 

What was most impressive about Early's start, though, was his ability to stay away from the long ball. After not allowing a home run in the first seven starts of his career, he had allowed nine in his last seven outings, including two in Atlanta's 3-2 win over the Red Sox on May 15. 

"He was awesome," interim manager Chad Tracy said of the start, "he was outstanding," he continued. 

Overall, Early allowed four hits while walking three and recording seven strikeouts. That's a line that, according to Red Sox Nation Stats on Twitter/X, put him in some elite company in franchise history. Early became just the fifth Red Sox starter with multiple shutout starts, each with 4 or fewer hits and 7.0+ IP before turning 24 years old, joining Roger Clemens, Jon Lester, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Aaron Sele. 

Early, of course, is only one half of a dynamic duo of rookie left-handed starters, along with Payton Tolle. Throughout their rookie season, the duo has continued to make history as the best homegrown arms since Lester debuted in 2007. 

As noted by J.P. Long on Twitter/X, after seven years without a starter under 25 throwing seven or more shutout innings, the duo of Early and Tolle has achieved that feat three times in May alone. 

Tolle will look to replicate his teammate's success on Thursday afternoon as the Red Sox will look to take the series from the Braves. He'll get the start opposite former Boston ace Chris Sale (7-2, 1.89 ERA) for Atlanta. First pitch from Fenway Park set for 4:10 p.m. ET. 

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