Despite the defense's best efforts to the contrary, Brewers beat the Red Sox 7-6

Winning Pitcher: Tyler Thornburg

Losing Pitcher: Burke Badenhop

HR: M. Reynolds 1 (1), C. Gomez 1 (2)

SV: K-Rod (2)

Boxscore

It was an interesting/weird first inning for the Brewers' offense. Jean Segura managed to reach base on a grounder that shot off opposing starter Clay Buchholz's leg. Jonathan Lucroy hit into a fielder's choice and on what was either a wise decision or an overly aggressive risk, Segura advanced to third on the throw to first from Xander Bogaerts. Whatever you call it, it worked as Aramis Ramirez would then drive Segura home on a grounder that just barely went under Bogaerts' glove. Khris Davis would also get a hit, but no more runs would score that inning.

In the second innings things started off with a blast...literally. Mark Reynolds got his first hit as a Brewers on a massive line-drive home run off the first pitch. Not to be outdone, with two outs, Carlos Gomez absolutely crushed a home run to left. For a moment you could actually see the fabric of spacetime start to rip. If it weren't for the light pole, I believe the ball would have left the park entirely.

Wily Peralta worked a quick first inning retiring the Red Sox in order but he got roughed up a bit in the second inning. After back to back hits, the Red Sox got their first run on a fielders choice. They would a second run on a grounder that was badly bobbled and kicked by Segura (At the time of writing this, the official scorer did not rule this an error so the run is earned which is ridiculous). Martin Maldonado would end the inning by throwing out Jonathan Herrera trying steal second.

The Brewers offense kept rolling in the third inning. Lucroy led off with a double and Ramirez moved him to third with a single. Davis followed with another single scoring Lucroy. Logan Schafer ground out on a dribbler back towards the mound, but the runners would advance to second and third for Mark Reynolds. He would strike out, but Scooter Gennett would double in the pair to bring the Brewers lead to 6-2.

Peralta started off the third inning with a strikeout but then allowed a walk. Another runner reached on an error by Aramis Ramirez. The defense again failed Peralta as Segura, with a chance for at an easy double play, bobbled and was only able to get the runner out at first. Mike Napoli made them pay with a 3-run home run to center field cutting the Brewers' lead to 6-5. Bogaerts would draw a walk, but no further runs would score.

Carlos Gomez led off the fourth inning with a single and Jean Segura quickly followed with a bunt single. With runners at first and second, Jonathan Lucroy struck out on 3 pitches.  The runners would have advanced to second and third on a flyout from Aramis Ramirez, but Gomez got caught trying to score on the throw and was out at home to end the inning. Ed Sedar did wave Gomez around, so it's not really on him. It was pretty close and for the life of me I don't know why Ron Roenicke wouldn't try to review that one.

Wily Peralta, sick of this *ahem* stuff, pitched a quick and clean 3-up-3-down 4th inning.

In the top of the fifth inning, Logan Schafer and Mark Reynolds would chase Clay Buchholz from the game with back-to-back one out singles. Former Brewer Chris Capuano would take the mound with runners at the corner. Roenicke opted to leave Scooter Gennett in versus the lefty to predictable results. He popped up to shallow left field and the runner was unable score. With two outs and Martin Maldonado at the plate I went to the bathroom because the outcome was obvious (I didn't really, but you just knew they weren't going to score). Maldonado struck out to end the inning.

Wily Peralta was still sick of this...stuff...in the 5th inning and once again did not give up a run. He allowed a base hit to Dustin Pedroia but otherwise struck out the side. This would end Peralta's evening. His final line was 5 IP, 5 R, 2 ER, 6 K, 5 H, 2 BB.

In the 6th inning the Brewers offense was retired in order. Jim Henderson entered the game for the Brewers and allowed a lead-off double to Bogaerts. He would then walk Jonny Gomes. Roenicke immediately replaced him with Zach Duke. On one pitch he induced A.J. Pierzynski to ground into a double play. The runner advanced to third base. The next hitter would ground into what should have been the third out, but once again Segura bobbled it allowing the Red Sox to tie the game. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, I did not have any alcohol in the house to dull the pain. Duke would get the next batter to strike out the next batter. For the time being I put the mouthwash back in the medicine cabinet.

Aramis Ramirez led off the 7th inning with a single. Khris Davis followed with a single of his own and Jonny Gomes did the Brewers a solid by bobbling the ball, allowing Ramirez to advance to third. The next three Brewers would strike out. I send the dog to the gas station with three dollars and a note that says "Steel Reserve." Hopefully she returns soon.

Zach Duke stayed in the game to face Grady Sizemore, retiring him on a pop-out. Brandon Kintzler would then replace him. He quickly retired Dustin Pedroia and Daniel Nava.

A crisis was averted in the 8th inning when I found some beer hiding in the back of the fridge. The dog hasn't returned, but the mouthwash stays where it is for now. The Brewers were unable to score though. Jean Segura at least made things interesting. With two outs he hit a single, then stole second base and went to third on a poor throw from the catcher. Lucroy scorched the ball but it went straight into the first baseman's glove.

In the bottom of the 8th Kintzler allowed a lead off single, but got the next batter to strikeout. After that he induced a double play to end the inning. Beer supply is running low and the dog remains at large. I have the mouthwash at the ready. At the very least it will help me forget.

Koji Uehara struck out the side in the 9th. The Brewers never stood a chance. It was brutal. Almost as brutal as this mouthwash. Will Smith pitched the other half of the inning. He struck out the first batter and got the next batter to ground out on 1 pitch. Then David Ortiz stepped to the plate for the first time this game. The "Papi" chants were loud, but Smith remained unfazed. Ortiz grounded to short and the game went to extra innings.

The Brewers showed a little sign of life in the 10th as Scooter Gennett hit a one out line drive double. With two outs Carlos Gomez drew a walk. Things were definitely getting weird. Jean Segura stepped to the plate and proceeded to strikeout. Jonathan Lucroy stepped to the plate. Sorry, I forgot to mention that Segura reached base on the passed ball. Unfortunately Luc would flyout to right to strand the bases loaded.

The Brewers sent out Tyler Thornburg to take the mound in the bottom of the 10th. He looked pretty good getting the first batter to strikeout on 3 pitches, hitting 94 on the radar gun. Then he got Pedroia to ground out on 1 pitch. He got the third batter to fly out. The whole inning took all of 8 pitches. It was an oasis of an inning in a game that saw such awful defense and such weirdness as runners reaching base on strikeouts and the very ripping of spacetime. Perhaps mouthwash should not be ingested. In fact, I recommend that no one ever do that.

Former Brewer Burke Badenhop started the 11th for the Sox. Aramis Ramirez immediately grounded out followed by a ground rule double tby Khris Davis that bounced into a fan's glove. Logan Schafer greeted his former teammate rather rudely by doubling in Khris Davis. The Brewers finally regained the lead! Mark Reynolds struck out and with Gennett coming up next, the Red Sox put in LHP Andrew Miller. Roenicke left Gennett in the game and he struck out. With the Brewers taking the lead prior to the move, even though Gennett can't do a thing versus LHP, I thought it was the right move. Defense probably mattered more than insurance runs and it's not like Rickie Weeks is a sure bet. I say that as a big fan of his.

Francisco Rodriguez came on for the save. The first batter struck out on 6 pitches. The second batter struck out on 4 pitches. Even though he had 20 pitches to work with K-Rod only needed 6 to strikeout the final batter of the game. The long national nightmare was over. The Brewers won, insuring they end their worst week with at worst a .500 record which, if you read this article, will know that that is pretty solid.

It was at this time that my dog finally returned, albeit a bit too late. Along with the Steel Reserve she had a note that simply read "Credo quia absurdum est." I have no idea what that means but it doesn't matter. The Brewers return to the field tomorrow at 12:35 pm CT. Yovani Gallardo will face Jon Lester.