Boston, MA (My Sportsbook) - Kevin Youkilis hit the go-ahead bloop single in
the seventh inning, as the Red Sox blew a big lead and then rallied for a 7-6
win over the Brewers to complete a sweep of an interleague doubleheader.
In the first game, David Ortiz hit a three-run homer and scored twice in
Boston's 5-3 victory. Daisuke Matsuzaka (7-0) went 6 2/3 innings for the win,
allowing two unearned runs and seven hits, fanning six with a pair of walks.
The nightcap proved to be a game of surges as the Red Sox wasted a 5-0 lead,
but then rallied for two runs in the seventh to pull off the sweep on the
heels of a four-game skid.
"We did a good job of scoring early and then they came back at us with a
vengeance and we came back and scored right away and that was good to see,"
Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "It was a long day of baseball."
Mike Lowell homered and knocked in four runs for the Red Sox. Craig Hansen
(1-2) allowed three unearned runs in the seventh inning, but managed to get
the victory.
Craig Counsell and Rickie Weeks each had two RBI for the Brewers, who have
lost four in a row. Milwaukee had four errors, including two in the crucial
seventh inning, and left 11 men on base, going 3-for-15 with runners in
scoring position. Corey Hart homered in the loss.
Dave Bush was charged with five hits and five runs -- four earned -- over six
innings in the start for Milwaukee, while Boston's Tim Wakefield surrendered
six hits and three runs over 5 1/3 frames.
The Brewers scored three times in both the sixth and seventh innings to push
ahead before the Red Sox rallied to move in front. With Salomon Torres (3-1)
pitching, Jacoby Ellsbury reached first on an error by Weeks at second to
start the inning. Dustin Pedroia then hit a ball toward third baseman Bill
Hall, but his throw to second was wide and runners were at the corners.
"Ellsbury was on first and I was trying to get rid of it quick but you still
have to make a good throw," Hall said. "We're not playing terrible, terrible
baseball. We feel like we can stay close, get the job done and win the
division."
Ortiz then hit a grounder to shortstop to tie the game, and Youkilis followed
by hitting a ball to short right field. First baseman Prince Fielder, right
fielder Hart and Weeks all converged, but the ball dropped between them, as
Pedroia raced home.
"It was one of those games that seemed like it took forever and you just have
to scratch and claw your way," Youkilis said. "We're always glad to be at home
in those types of games when we have the last chance to do it, but luckily we
didn't have to get to that tonight."
The Brewers put runners on first and second with one out in the eighth, but
Hart grounded into a 4-6-3 double play. Mike Timlin retired the side in order
in the ninth for his first save of the year.
Lowell stroked a two-run double in the first and blasted a two-run homer out
of the stadium and over the wall in left in the third. It became 5-0 in the
fifth thanks to another error from Hall, as he bobbled a grounder from
Youkilis, allowing Ellsbury to score.
Hart homered with one out in the sixth and later in the inning Weeks singled
with the bases loaded, scoring two more. David Aardsma walked Mike Cameron to
load the bases again, but then got Ryan Braun to foul out to end the inning.
Milwaukee loaded the bases again in the seventh, thanks in part to error from
Lowell and Alex Cora. Mike Rivera then grounded into a force play to drive in
a run, and Counsell doubled down the right field line to move the Brewers
ahead, 6-5.
Game Notes
Boston had three errors...Milwaukee's Carlos Villanueva (2-4) and Boston's
Josh Beckett (4-3) are the starting pitchers for Sunday...Gabe Kapler, who
didn't play in the first game, started in left field for the Brewers in the
nightcap and received a standing ovation on his first plate appearance. Kapler
played for Boston from 2003-06.