Final, Brewers 7-6: Francisco Rodriguez sat the Red Sox down in order in the 11th inning.
Mike Napoli, Xander Bogaerts and Jonny Gomes couldn’t get anything going against the Brewers closer. All three hitters struck out swinging.
Back-to-back doubles from Khris Davis and Logan Schafer off Burke Badenhop in the 11th inning were the difference in this one.
The Brewers racked up 19 hits in the 7-6 victory, including 13 against Clay Buchholz, who simply didn’t have his best stuff. Buchholz gave up six runs on a career-high 13 hits over 4 1/3 innings in a disappointing season debut for the right-hander.
The Red Sox and Brewers will close out their three-game series Sunday afternoon. Jon Lester and Yovani Gallardo are scheduled to square off in a matinée tilt scheduled for 1:35 p.m.
Mid 11th, Brewers 7-6: Burke Badenhop, who spent the 2013 season with Milwaukee, surrendered a run to his former teammates in the 11th inning.
Khris Davis dropped a flair just inside the right field line with one out. The ball kicked up into the stands for a ground rule double.
Logan Schafer followed with a well-placed double into the left-center field gap that allowed Davis to score the go-ahead run.
Badenhop struck out Mark Reynolds for the second out of the 11th inning, at which point John Farrell turned to lefty Andrew Miller to face the left-handed-hitting Scooter Gennett. Miller fired a wild pitch before striking out Gennett.
Mike Napoli, Xander Bogaerts and Jonny Gomes are due up for Boston in the bottom of the 11th. They’ll face Brewers closer Francisco Rodriguez aka K-Rod.
End 10th, 6-6: To the 11th inning, we go.
The Red Sox couldn’t muster up any offense in the home half of the 10th. Grady Sizemore, Dustin Pedroia and Daniel Nava were easily handled in order by Tyler Thornburg.
Burke Badenhop will pitch the 11th inning for Boston.
Mid 10th, 6-6: There were some tense moments in the top of the 10th before Junichi Tazawa slammed the door on a scoreless inning.
Scooter Gennett roped a one-out double about halfway up the center field wall, and Carlos Gomez worked a two-out walk.
Tazawa almost got out of the inning by striking out Jean Segura, but the ball, which was thrown in the dirt, got away from catcher A.J. Pierzynski. By the time Pierzynski tracked it down, Segura was able to reach at first base, loading the bases for Jonathan Lucroy.
Lucroy gave one a ride to right field, but Daniel Nava flagged it down to end the bases-loaded threat.
End 9th, 6-6: The Red Sox will play extra frames for the first time this season.
Boston went down in order in the ninth inning, although the Fenway Park crowd — which has thinned out in the later innings — came alive with two outs when David Ortiz pinch hit for Jackie Bradley Jr.
Ortiz, who originally was scheduled to have Saturday off, grounded out to second base to send the game into extra innings.
The Red Sox have made some defensive changes in the wake of Ortiz pinch hitting for Bradley. Mike Carp, who originally was scratched with low back tightness, will play first base (where Daniel Nava was stationed) as Nava heads out to right field (where Bradley was stationed).
Junichi Tazawa will pitch the 10th inning for Boston.
Mid 9th, 6-6: Koji Uehara is just plain filthy.
Uehara struck out the side in the ninth inning, and no one really stood a chance. Aramis Ramirez, Khris Davis and Logan Schafer all went down swinging.
A.J. Pierzynski, Jonathan Herrera and Jackie Bradley Jr. are due up for Boston in the bottom of the ninth.
End 8th, 6-6: The Red Sox couldn’t do anything with Mike Napoli’s leadoff single.
Xander Bogaerts put up an eight-pitch battle before striking out, and Jonny Gomes grounded into a 6-4-3 double play.
Koji Uehara will pitch the ninth inning for Boston.
Mid 8th, 6-6: The Brewers left the potential go-ahead run at third base in the eighth inning.
Jean Segura, who has had an adventurous day defensively, singled into center field with two outs. He then took off for second base and catcher A.J. Pierzynski’s throw bounced past shortstop Xander Bogaerts and into center field. Segura popped up and advance to third base.
Jonathan Lucroy threatened to give the Brewers a lead with a line drive to the right side. But for the second time in as many innings, Daniel Nava — playing first base — flashed some leather to help save the Red Sox. Nava snagged Lucroy’s liner to keep the game tied.
End 7th, 6-6: Two Brewers pitchers combined for a scoreless seventh inning.
Zach Duke stayed in to face the left-handed-hitting Grady Sizemore. Sizemore flied out to left field.
The Brewers then called upon Brandon Kintzler, who retired Dustin Pedroia and Daniel Nava to send the game into the eighth inning tied at six apiece.
Mid 7th, 6-6: Brandon Workman pitched the Red Sox out of trouble in the seventh inning.
Aramis Ramirez and Khris Davis delivered back-to-back singles against Chris Capuano to open the seventh. Jonny Gomes bobbled Davis’ knock, and that allowed Ramirez to take third base.
Capuano struck out Logan Schafer looking before manager John Farrell turned to Workman with one out and runners at the corners.
Workman kept the score tied by striking out Mark Reynolds and Scooter Gennett to end the inning.
Gennett chased a pitch in the dirt, forcing catcher A.J. Pierzynski to throw down to first base to complete the out. Pierzynski’s throw was in the dirt, but Daniel Nava, who shifted to first base when Mike Carp was scratched shortly before the game, did a nice job of corralling the catcher’s errant toss.
End 6th, 6-6: The Brewers are doing everything they can to keep the Red Sox in this game.
Xander Bogaerts led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a double to left-center field. Bogaerts, who continues to look locked in at the plate, smoked a line drive off the Green Monster.
Jonny Gomes then worked a five-pitch walk, which prompted manager Ron Roenicke to remove Jim Henderson in favor of Zach Duke.
Duke did his job and should have been out of the inning, but the Brewers’ defense again came back to haunt them.
A.J. Pierzynski grounded into a 6-4-3 double play, and Jonathan Herrera hit a routine grounder to short. Jean Segura couldn’t handle Herrera’s grounder, and Bogaerts trotted home on the error.
It’s been a rough day for Milwaukee’s defense, and Segura has been one of the main culprits.
Mid 6th, Brewers 6-5: Chris Capuano has been strong.
Capuano, who wiggled the Red Sox out of a fifth-inning jam, enjoyed a 1-2-3 sixth inning.
Capuano struck out Carlos Gomez and Jonathan Lucroy swinging in the sixth, giving the left-hander three strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings.
End 5th, Brewers 6-5: Wily Peralta recorded three strikeouts in the fifth inning.
Dustin Pedroia reached in the fifth on a line drive to the right side. Peralta struck out Grady Sizemore, Daniel Nava and Mike Napoli in the frame, though, and the Red Sox still trail by a run.
Sizemore went down looking. Nava and Napoli struck out swinging.
Mid 5th, Brewers 6-5: Chris Capuano kept Boston’s deficit at one run with some clutch pitching.
Clay Buchholz again struggled upon taking the mound, surrendering two hits — a double to Logan Schafer and a single to Mark Reynolds — before manager John Farrell saw enough.
Capuano entered with runners at first and third with one out. The veteran lefty managed to escape without the Brewers inflicting any damage, though.
Capuano capped his fifth-inning escape by striking out Martin Maldonato and pumping his fist while walking off the mound.
Buchholz gave up six runs on 13 hits in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out three, didn’t walk anyone and surrendered two home runs while throwing 72 pitches (54 strikes).
End 4th, Brewers 6-5: Wily Peralta settled things down in the fourth inning.
Peralta had no trouble handling the bottom of the Red Sox’s order in the fourth. A.J. Pierzynski, Jonathan Herrera and Jackie Bradley Jr. went down sequentially.
Clay Buchholz will head back out for the fifth inning despite getting knocked around throughout the first four innings. Chris Capuano has been warming up in the Boston bullpen.
Mid 4th, Brewers 6-5:Â Clay Buchholz kept the Brewers off the scoreboard for the first time in this game. But it wasn’t without a major struggle and a guy getting thrown out at the plate
Carlos Gomez singled into left field to lead off the fourth inning. Gomez now is 6-for-8 with a home run in the series.
Jean Segura tested Jonathan Herrera at third base by dropping down a bunt. Herrera made a barehanded play, but he couldn’t get it over to first base in time to throw out Segura.
Aramis Ramirez, batting with runners at first and second, sent Grady Sizemore to the warning track with a deep fly ball to center. Sizemore made the catch, but the Brewers got extremely aggressive and once again tried to take an extra base.
Sizemore fired back in toward second base as Segura (who was on first base) darted toward the bag. All the while, Gomez (who was on second base) rounded third with a full head of steam and tried to score. Dustin Pedroia, upon receiving Sizemore’s throw, quickly fired home, where catcher A.J. Pierzynski slapped a tag down on Gomez just in time to complete a very unique double play.
End 3rd, Brewers 6-5: The Red Sox’s offense — with some help from the Brewers’ defense — has kept Boston in this game.
Mike Napoli launched a three-run bomb into the center field bleachers with two outs in the third inning. Napoli’s home run was his second of the season, and both have been struck to dead center.
(Anyone mispronounce Napoli’s name today?)
The Red Sox’s three third-inning runs were unearned, though, as some sloppy defense helped pave the way for Napoli’s blast.
First, Aramis Ramirez watched a ball go between his legs at third base.
Then, when the Brewers could have spun an inning-end double play, shortstop Jean Segura failed to cleanly handle a routine ground ball. Segura recovered to retire Daniel Nava on a bang-bang play at first base, but Dustin Pedroia — who was stationed at first — slid in safely at second base because of the bobble.
Mid 3rd, Brewers 6-2: Clay Buchholz is getting shellacked.
Buchholz surrendered three more runs on four hits in the third inning. He now has given up six runs on nine hits in the game.
The first three hitters in the third inning reached for Milwaukee. Jonathan Lucroy doubled into the right-center field gap. Aramis Ramirez and Khris Davis each singled into left field. Davis’ knock scored Lucroy from third base.
Buchholz rebounded to pick up a pair of outs. Scooter Gennett wasn’t ready to let the right-hander off the hook, though.
Gennett shot a line drive into right-center field that Grady Sizemore needed to dive for just to keep from going into the triangle. Gennett’s two-out double plated two runs.
End 2nd, Brewers 3-2: It’s been a wild start at Fenway Park.
Xander Bogaerts and Jonny Gomes followed Mike Napoli’s inning-opening strikeout with back-to-back hits. Bogaerts went the other way for a single, and Gomes ripped a double down into the left field corner.
A.J. Pierzynski grounded out to first base for the inning’s second out, but it was enough to score Bogaerts from third base.
The Red Sox grabbed their second run of the game when Jonathan Herrera — inserted into the lineup for Will Middlebrooks minutes before the game — hit a soft ground ball over the mound. Brewers shortstop Jean Segura charged it, but he really had no play.
Herrera attempted to move up into scoring position with Jackie Bradley Jr. at the plate. Catcher Martin Maldonato wasn’t having any of it, though, and he gunned down Herrera trying to steal second base.
Mid 2nd, Brewers 3-0: Clay Buchholz is getting knocked around.
Mark Reynolds led off the second inning with a solo blast into the Monster seats. Carlos Gomez added to Milwaukee’s lead with a two-out bomb that clanked off one of the light towers located atop the Monster.
Buchholz now has given up three runs on five hits over two innings.
Between Buchholz’s start and the Red Sox’s late lineup changes, it’s been an eventful hour at Fenway Park.
End 1st, Brewers 1-0: Wily Peralta didn’t trip over the third base line on his way to the mound. And, perhaps more importantly, he retired the Red Sox in order in the first inning.
Grady Sizemore led off with a line drive to center field that Carlos Gomez easily handled. Gomez made a couple of nice plays Friday.
Dustin Pedroia and Daniel Nava grounded out and popped out, respectively.
7:23 p.m., Brewers 1-0: It was just announced in the Fenway Park press box that Will Middlebrooks was scratched from the lineup minutes before the game because of a right calf cramp.
Mid 1st, Brewers 1-0: The Brewers, who scored four runs in the ninth inning of Friday’s game, didn’t waste any time jumping onto the scoreboard in this one.
Clay Buchholz gave up three hits in the first inning as the Brewers grabbed an early 1-0 lead.
Jean Segura singled with one out. Segura then advanced all the way to third base on an aggressive play when Jonathan Lucroy grounded out to short. Segura arrived at second base as Xander Bogaerts was preparing to throw to first, and he decided to keep running once the Red Sox shortstop delivered his throw.
Bogaerts made a miscue moments later when Aramis Ramirez smashed a sharply hit ground ball to short. Ramirez was awarded a hit, but it’s a play Bogaerts probably should have made. Segura trotted home from third base.
7:10 p.m.: Clay Buchholz throws a first-pitch strike.
(And no one has been scratched from the lineup in the last 45 seconds or so, so that’s a step in the right direction.)
7:08 p.m.: Crumple up your initial lineup card — or do something with it. We have yet another change.
Jonathan Herrera has been inserted into the Red Sox’s lineup. He’ll play third base and bat eighth. Will Middlebrooks is out.
This comes shortly after Mike Carp was scratched from the lineup with low back tightness.
The new — and hopefully final — lineup card is below.
Boston Red Sox (2-2)
Grady Sizemore, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Daniel Nava, 1B
Mike Napoli, DH
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Jonny Gomes, LF
A.J. Pierzynski, C
Jonathan Herrera, 3B
Jackie Bradley Jr., RF
Clay Buchholz, RHP
6:42 p.m.: There’s been a change to the Red Sox’s lineup.
Mike Carp has been scratched because of low back tightness. Daniel Nava will play first base and still bat third. Jonny Gomes will play left field and bat sixth.
The Red Sox’s new lineup is below.
Boston Red Sox (2-2)
Grady Sizemore, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Daniel Nava, 1B
Mike Napoli, DH
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Jonny Gomes, LF
A.J. Pierzynski, C
Will Middlebrooks, 3B
Jackie Bradley Jr., RF
Clay Buchholz, RHP
6:25 p.m.: There are a couple of other pregame notes worth mentioning.
Shane Victorino, who is on the disabled list with a hamstring strain, still is staying away from the team because of the flu. Victorino attended Friday’s ring ceremony, but he left shortly after.
Craig Breslow, who is on the DL with a shoulder issue, pitched back-to-back games at Triple-A Pawtucket on Thursday and Friday. The Red Sox aren’t ready to activate him just yet, but the left-hander certainly is nearing his return.
5:10 p.m.: David Ortiz is absent from the Red Sox’s lineup.
Ortiz’s absence is a “planned down day,” according to John Farrell. The slugger has been dealing with a bit of a calf issue, though, so it’s certainly something to monitor.
Daniel Nava will slide down into the No. 3 spot in Ortiz’s absence. Grady Sizemore, who picked up his first stolen base of the season in Friday’s loss, will bat leadoff.
Saturday’s complete lineups are below.
Boston Red Sox (2-2)
Grady Sizemore, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Daniel Nava, LF
Mike Napoli, DH
Mike Carp, 1B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
A.J. Pierzynski, C
Will Middlebrooks, 3B
Jackie Bradley Jr., RF
Clay Buchholz, RHP
Milwaukee Brewers (2-2)
Carlos Gomez, CF
Jean Segura, SS
Jonathan Lucroy, DH
Aramis Ramirez, 3B
Khris Davis, LF
Logan Schafer, RF
Mark Reynolds, 1B
Scooter Gennett, 2B
Martin Maldonado, C
Wily Peralta, RHP
5 p.m. ET: In the words of Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell, pitcher Clay Buchholz checked off every box coming out of spring training.
Buchholz, who entered spring training on the heels of a 2013 season in which he dealt with some physical issues, accomplished everything he wanted to during camp. Now, Buchholz will attempt to put everything together for a full season — something that’s been an issue for the right-hander throughout his career.
Buchholz was a Cy Young front-runner last season before going down with an injury. He eventually returned — even pushing through in the playoffs despite not being 100 percent — but the Red Sox certainly need him to stay healthy this season. While Buchholz is beginning the year as Boston’s No. 5 starter, he’s undoubtedly an important part of the Red Sox’s rotation.
The Red Sox enjoyed a very emotional ring ceremony Friday at Fenway Park. The game didn’t exactly go the way Boston anticipated, though, as reliever Edward Mujica imploded in the ninth inning en route to a 6-2 loss. The Red Sox, who took two of three from the Baltimore Orioles to begin the regular season, will look to get back in the win column Saturday and get back over .500.
Buchholz will go up against Wily Peralta in Saturday’s game at Fenway. Peralta took a little tumble during Friday’s ring ceremony, so you can bet he’ll be watching his step in this one.
Saturday’s game is scheduled to kick off at 7:10 p.m. Tune in NESN, and stick around with NESN.com.
