Willson Contreras’s two-run homer the big hit Red Sox needed in win over Braves

ATLANTA — On Payton Tolle’s big night, Willson Contreras made it actually matter.

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The Red Sox beat the Braves, 3-2, Saturday after Contreras’s two-out, two-strike, two-run home run in the eighth inning put them ahead, turning Tolle’s eight-inning gem into a win.

Given the stage of the game (late), the stage of the season (later than ever in relative terms), and the opponent (one of the best teams in the majors), Contreras’s blast off righthander Bryce Elder may well have been the biggest hit of

the season for the Red Sox.

“It’s like a relief feeling,” Contreras said through an interpreter. “Finally, I’m able to have that swing to help the team, even more [with] how the last few weeks are going. That was the feeling in that moment.”

Interim manager Chad Tracy said: “He’s our guy. That guy is our presence in the middle of the order that can do instant damage. And that changed the dugout in a hurry with that swing.”

And Tolle, who was in the dugout: “I got fired up a little bit. Heart rate spiked pretty hard. But why wouldn’t it? It’s a pretty good moment.”

The rest of the night, Tolle’s heart rate seemed steadily low, much like his pitch count.

In the longest outing of his career by a full frame, Tolle allowed just two runs and four hits — two from Drake Baldwin (home run, RBI single) and two from José Azócar (both doubles).

He struck out a season-low three, induced just six swing-and-misses, and maxed out his fastball at 97.1 miles per hour, not quite as high as usual.

But results-wise, it didn’t matter. Center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela made at least a pair of pretty plays — one catch that required a slide, and another that didn’t because he had covered so much ground so quickly.

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“We have an exquisite defense,” Tolle said. “It’s fun to give up what I think is a hit and Ceddanne Rafaela is sitting underneath the baseball.”

By the end, Tolle’s ERA had actually risen, from 1.99 to 2.05. Elder, who gave up three runs in eight innings, went from 1.81 to 2.01.

Tolle became the first Sox pitcher to finish eight innings in 85 pitches or fewer since Aaron Cook in 2012. The team’s only other hurler to do so this century is Derek Lowe, who did it twice.

“Just awesome,” Tracy said.

Tracy trusted closer Aroldis Chapman for the ninth. After a near-disastrous mess, Chapman converted his 25th consecutive save — a streak that dates to July — to increase his career total to 377, tied with Joe Nathan for 10th on the all-time list.

Raising the degree of difficulty: Shortstop Andruw Monasterio committed a throwing error on what should have been the final out of the game. Chapman answered by throwing eight consecutive balls, loading the bases for Atlanta (31-15).

“I lost my control,” Chapman said through an interpreter. “I focused too much on the base runner instead of focusing on the hitter, and that was the main reason why I walked those two guys.”

Tracy said: “With Chappy out there, you still feel really good about it.”

With the potential tying run at third and potential winning run at second, Ha-Seong Kim shot a hard ground ball off Chapman’s right ankle, knocking him down. Chapman recovered, fielded the ball near the first-base line, and flipped to Contreras at first base as he again fell to the ground.

Game over.

“What was going through my mind was: Chapman, please just make the out,” Contreras said. “Making the throw, from that angle, it’s not an easy play to make, especially such a big guy. I’m glad he was able to do that and that he’s OK.”

In a season in which nothing has come easy for the Red Sox (19-26), this win was very much included.

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The Red Sox had been 0-21 when trailing after seven innings.

“[Chapman’s] OK,” Tracy said. “And we got the job done.”