Four Run Fifth sends Brewers past Boston Red Sox 7-4

WP: Rob Scahill (1-1); LP: Kyle Kendrick (0-2); S: none; HR: Bos., Bradley, Jr. (2); Mil., none

Box Score

The Milwaukee Brewers rode their hot bats and good enough pitching to their third straight win, and moved two games over .500 for the first time this season, with a 7-4 win over the Boston Red Sox at Miller Park tonight. The Brewers are 11 for 19 with runners in scoring position ins the series, and have scored 18 runs in the two games. Reliever Rob Scahill was the only Brewer pitcher out of four to not give up a run, and earned his first win of the season in relief of Chase Anderson. (Edit: Jared Hughes, the fourth of five Brewer pitchers, was also unscored upon.) Boston starter Kyle Kendrick allowed ten hits and six runs in 4.2 innings to take the loss.

The win moves the Brewers within a half game of second place Cincinnati, and a full game ahead of the fourth place Chicago Cubs. Ther Brewers have guaranteed a win in the series and go for the sweep tomorrow afternoon.

Milwaukee had Keon Broxton leading off for the first time this season, as Jonathan Villar sat for the first time after two bad base running errors last night. Hernan Perez got the start at second base.

The Brewers scored first, continuing their first inning success this season (35 runs in 34 first innings). After two were out, Ryan Braun walked and Travis Shaw squibbed a cue shot down the third base line that went as an infield hit, putting runners at first and second. RBI singles from Domingo Santana and Hernan Perez plated Braun and Shaw for a 2-0 advantage.

Boston had baserunners all over the place against Chase Anderson tonight, but only notched two runs. Jackie Bradley, Jr. homered leading off the second and Mookie Betts drove in Christian Vasquez, who had a one out double in the fourth, with a two out single.

Anderson was relieved with two on and two down in the fifth, after 99 pitches. Chase gave up eight hits and walked two, k’ing four. Scahill got the last out in the fifth, preserving the tie.

Milwaukee regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth, chasing Kyle Kendricks in the process. Keon Broxton continued his hot hitting with a double over Betts in right, and Eric Thames dropped a ground rule double down the left field line to drive in Broxton. Thames RBI tied him for the team lead with Shaw at 25, but just like last night, Shaw re-took the lead, this time with an RBI fielder’s choice, plating Thames. Ryan Braun had singled in between and left the game with tightness in his calf, replaced by Villar as a pinch runner.

Then the Red Sox defense contributed to the Brewers’ cause. Shaw and Santana took off from second and first, and Vazquez’ throw sailed way over and way wide of Dustin Pedroia covering at second, sending Shaw home and Santana to third. Perez singled in Santana for his second RBI of the night.

Scahill gave the Brewers’ pen a huge lift by going 2.1 innings, allowing no hits while walking two. Both runners were erased in double plays.

The Brewers added their seventh run in the bottom of the sixth. Broxton singled and took third on a base hit by Thames, the second of the game for both. Thames took off for a steal of second, and Vazquez tried to catch Broxton off of third. His throw went into leftfield, and Broxton trotted home with Thames taking third. Villar grounded to short with a drawn-in infield and Shaw took a called strike three to end the threat.

Oliver Drake faced three Boston hitters in the top of the eighth and all three reached to load the bases with nobody out. Brewers’ manager Craig Counsell went with Jared Hughes to replace Drake, and Hughes made Couns look like a genius, getting a double play grounder from Vazguez and a flyball to center to end the inning with just one run for the Bosox. 7-3 Brewers.

Closer Neftali Feliz worked the ninth, allowing a run on no hits. He walked Betts leading off the inning, and defensive indifference allowed Betts to take second. He took third on a liner to deep right and scored on a groundball to Shaw.

Thursday’s game will have a 12:10 start. The Red Sox (17-16) send out Eduardo Rodriguez (1-1, 3.07) to face the Brewers’ (18-16) Jimmy Nelson (1-2, 4.83). The game will be telecast on FSWisconsin.