Milwaukee Brewers fall 4-1 to Boston Red Sox
MILWAUKEE — Mookie Betts got what he wanted.
Betts' three-run home run in the ninth inning Thursday lifted the Boston Red Sox to a 4-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. It was Betts' fifth homer of the season and third in his last four games, and helped Boston salvage one win in the three-game series in the Red Sox's first trip to Milwaukee since 2003.
Boston's right fielder enjoyed his time at Miller Park, as he went 7 for 11 with eight runs batted in and five runs scored.
"He's certainly impacting the baseball," Boston manager John Farrell said. "He's come up big in so many situations. But this was probably as big of a swing as he's had all year for us."
Milwaukee closer Neftali Feliz (0-4) came on in the ninth, but managed to get only one out. Red Sox pitcher Craig Kimbrel (2-0) got the final five outs as Boston snapped the Brewers' three-game winning streak.
Christian Vazquez led off the ninth with a walk. He was safe at second on a fielder's choice when Deven Marrero's bunt was fielded by Feliz, but his throw to second base was dropped by shortstop Orlando Arcia.
Betts followed with a deep shot to left to help Boston wrap up its six-game road trip with a 3-3 record.
"I was just trying to be ready for a fastball," Betts said. "He throws 100, so that's his best pitch. I was able to get a good one and put a good swing on it."
Boston quickly got on the board in the first inning. Betts led off with a double, took third on a sacrifice bunt by Dustin Pedroia and scored when Xander Bogaerts' ground ball rolled under the glove of first baseman Jesus Aguilar.
In the bottom of the inning, Boston starter Eduardo Rodriguez gave up a one-out double to Keon Broxton, but then retired the next 13 batters. In the sixth, he allowed a lead-off single to Manny Pina, who scored on a two-out double to left by Jonathan Villar.
Rodriguez, who struck out five and allowed three hits in six innings, has given up five earned runs in his last 29 1/3 innings.
His counterpart, Jimmy Nelson, struck out eight, allowed four hits and an unearned run in 6 2/3 innings.
"Both starters were excellent," Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. "It felt like it was a game where runs were going to be pretty tough to come by."
OUCH!
Boston's Mitch Moreland hit a foul ball that knocked the face mask straight over the head of catcher Pina and sent him on his backside. A few innings later, Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez's mask was jarred off on a ball hit by Villar.
NEW DAY JOB
Milwaukee's manager of media relations, Ken Spindler, was one of the ball boys. His one blemish came when he misplayed a throw from left fielder Andrew Benintendi as they warmed up between innings and had to chase after the ball along the foul line.
KENDRICK REPLACED
Before the game, Boston recalled LHP Robbie Ross Jr. from Triple-A Pawtucket after the team optioned RHP Kyle Kendrick there Wednesday night. Kendrick (0-2) was shelled for six runs and 10 hits in 4 1/3 innings on Wednesday, giving him an earned run average of 12.96 this season.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Red Sox: Hanley Ramirez, who left the game Wednesday with a muscle spasm in his upper back, received treatment in the morning and did not play.
Brewers: Ryan Braun also sat out and is unlikely to play Friday because of a left calf strain.
UP NEXT
Red Sox: RHP Rick Porcello (2-4) faces Tampa Bay again after allowing eight earned runs in 4 1/3 innings against the Rays on April 14.
Brewers: RHP Matt Garza (1-0) makes his fourth start of the year as the New York Mets visit.
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Mookie Betts' three-run home run in the ninth inning Thursday lifted the Boston Red Sox to a 4-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.
It was Betts' fifth homer of the season and third in his last four games, and helped Boston salvage one win in the three-game series in the Red Sox's first trip to Milwaukee since 2003.
Boston's right fielder enjoyed his time at Miller Park, as he went 7 for 11 with eight runs batted in and five runs scored.
Milwaukee closer Neftali Feliz (0-4) came on in the ninth, but managed to get only one out. Red Sox pitcher Craig Kimbrel (2-0) got the final five outs as Boston snapped the Brewers' three-game winning streak.
Christian Vazquez led off the ninth with a walk. He was safe at second on a fielder's choice when Deven Marrero's bunt was fielded by Feliz, but his throw to second base was dropped by shortstop Orlando Arcia.
Betts followed with a deep shot to left to help Boston wrap up its six-game road trip with a 3-3 record.
It was 1-1 in the eighth when Boston had runners on second and third with no outs, and then the bases loaded with one out. But Corey Knebel struck out Jackie Bradley Jr., and Josh Rutledge to end the threat.
Boston quickly got on the board in the first inning. Betts led off with a double, took third on a sacrifice bunt by Dustin Pedroia and scored when Xander Bogaerts' ground ball rolled under the glove of first baseman Jesus Aguilar.
In the bottom of the inning, Boston starter Eduardo Rodriguez gave up a one-out double to Keon Broxton, but then retired the next 13 batters. In the sixth, he allowed a lead-off single to Manny Pina, who scored on a two-out double to left by Jonathan Villar.
Rodriguez, who struck out five and allowed three hits in six innings, has given up five earned runs in his last 29 1/3 innings.
His counterpart, Jimmy Nelson, struck out eight, allowed four hits and an unearned run in 6 2/3 innings.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Red Sox: Hanley Ramirez received treatment in the morning for a muscle spasm in his right upper back that forced him to leave the game Wednesday. He did not play.
Brewers: Ryan Braun also sat out, but it was a scheduled off day and was not a result of him exiting the game Wednesday with left calf tightness.
UP NEXT
Red Sox: RHP Rick Porcello (2-4) faces Tampa Bay again after allowing eight earned runs in 4 1/3 innings against the Rays on April 14.
Brewers: RHP Matt Garza (1-0) makes his fourth start of the year as the New York Mets visit.