In what was lined up as a battle of aces, the game delivered for the first 5 1/2 innings. However, it was Garrett Crochet who came out on top over Jacob Misiorowski, and the Brewers dropped their second game in Boston, 3-2.
Crochet started with a 1-2-3 inning, aided by a diving catch from Isiah Kiner-Falefa that took a double away from Luis Rengifo. Meanwhile, Misiorowski needed just 15 pitches to strike out the side in the bottom of the inning.
Gary Sánchez recorded the first hit in the second with a single to left-center, and a slow ground ball from Joey Ortiz moved him to second. That was it as Crochet struck out Luis Matos, and Sal Frelick grounded out to end the inning. As for Misiorowski, he didn’t strike out the side again in the bottom of the second, but started with two more strikeouts before a groundout ended the inning.
The Brewers kept up the pressure in the third with a line drive to center from Blake Perkins that just got over the head of Marcelo Meyer. David Hamilton moved Perkins into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Crochet recovered by striking out Brandon Lockridge, but a wild pitch in the next at-bat allowed Perkins to reach third. He would be stranded there as Crochet struck out William Contreras to end the inning.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox got their first baserunner from a Ceddanne Rafaela walk. Misiorowski recovered quick with a strikeout of Connor Wong. Kiner-Falefa hit a hard-hit ground ball right by Misiorowski, but Hamilton grabbed it, tagged Rafaela, then threw to first to get Kiner-Falefa for the double play, ending the inning.
In the fourth, Sánchez drew a one-out walk to give the Brewers another baserunner. Ortiz hit a ground ball to shortstop Trevor Story, who threw to Meyer at second for the first out, but Ortiz beat the throw to first (which was off target anyway). However, the Brewers challenged, and on replay it showed that Story’s throw took Meyer off the base. Both runners were safe for Matos, but another ground ball to Story turned into an actual double play, ending the inning.
Misiorowski kept going in the fourth with some help from the defense. Roman Anthony hit a ground ball hard between first and second, but Hamilton made a diving grab, and a great catch from Sánchez beat Anthony to first.
Jarren Duran struck out for the second out, but Willson Contreras got the first hit for the Red Sox by singling to right. He would be stranded there as Misiorowski hit the outside corner against Wilyer Abreu for his eighth strikeout of the night, ending the inning.
Both pitchers kept dealing through the fifth. The bottom of the Brewers’ batting order went down in order against Crochet. As for Misiorowski, he started the fifth with a Story groundout and Meyer strikeout. The Red Sox did have a scoring chance thanks to a Rafaela single and Wong hit by pitch, but Kiner-Falefa grounded out softly to end the inning. Through five innings, both pitchers had allowed just two hits and walked one. Crochet had five strikeouts and Misiorowki nine.
In the sixth, Crochet worked around a one-out single by Wm. Contreras for a scoreless inning, adding on two more strikeouts (the second confirmed on replay). Misiorowski started the inning strong with his 10th strikeout of the night. However, his mechanics started falling apart after that. He walked the next three batters (Duran, Wn. Contreras, Abreu) badly, throwing 11 straight balls and 12 in 13 pitches. That ended his night as manager Pat Murphy went to DL Hall, who had not been warming up for long.
Hall started well with two strikes to Story. Unfortunately, his third pitch was a hanging changeup that Story hit down the left field line, scoring two. Pinch-hitter Caleb Durbin hit a ground ball off the first-base side of the mound, and the bounce meant Hamilton had no chance at getting the runner at home, so Hamilton took the out at first. A ground ball to Ortiz from Rafaela ended the inning, but the damage was done. Misiorowski was charged for three runs and the Red Sox had a 3-0 lead.
While some may question why Misiorowski was left in for so long, the Red Sox made a similar decision with Crochet and it had similar results. Ortiz led off the seventh with a single. Crochect responded with a strikeout of Matos, but a single from Frelick and walk to Perkins loaded the bases. Then, with David Hamilton up, Crochet hit him with the first pitch of the at-bat, scoring Ortiz to put the Brewers on the board. That ended Crochet’s day, as Zack Kelly entered with the bases loaded and one out.
The Brewers called on Christian Yelich to counter Kelly. After working to a 2-2 count, Yelich hit a hard ground ball between second and third. Durbin just managed to knock it down and get Hamilton at second, but Frelick scored to make it a 3-2 game. Yelich then stole second to put a second runner in scoring position. Unfortunately, Wm. Contreras couldn’t cash them in, with a ground ball to Story ending the inning.
Hall remained out for the bottom of the seventh inning, retiring the side in order to keep it a one-run game. Meanwhile, the Red Sox went to Garrett Whitlock, their set-up man, for the eighth inning. After a rough outing on Monday, Whitlock rebounded against the Brewers with a clean inning of work. Hall continued into the bottom of the eighth, and walked Wn. Contreras around a fly out and ground out. Jake Woodford finished up the inning, getting Story to fly out and keep it a one-run game.
The Brewers had one final chance against closer Aroldis Chapman. It started with a first-pitch fly out from Matos. Frelick then worked a four-pitch walk as Chapman was missing the strike zone badly. Unfortunately, Perkins didn’t take advantage and hit the first pitch to short, setting up an easy double play that ended the game.
Opportunities to score were limited in this one. The Brewers just managed five hits, three walks, and a hit by pitch on offense. Sánchez, Frelick, and Perkins were each on base twice with a hit and a walk. Hamilton and Yelich each had an RBI on a productive out.
Meanwhile, Misiorowski was brilliant for 5 1/3 innings for the Brewers, but his line will be marred by those late three walks and the three inherited runners that Hall allowed to score. Hall saved most of the bullpen with 2 1/3 innings of work, but his scoreless appearance is marred by those runs. Woodford retired the only batter he saw to finish up the pitching staff’s day.
For the third straight series, the Brewers will head into a rubber match to try and win the series. The Red Sox will send out Sonny Gray for the afternoon game. Meanwhile, the Brewers have pulled back from Chad Patrick (who would have been starting on short rest) as their probable and have not announced a new one. They will likely make a roster move before tomorrow’s game. First pitch is set for 12:45 p.m. on Brewers.TV and the Brewers Radio Network.
