Broxton's 4 RBIs power Crew past Red Sox
MILWAUKEE -- Mookie Betts continued Boston's power surge with a leadoff home run before the Brewers reminded their Interleague foes who leads the Major Leagues in homers.Eric Thames and Keon Broxton hit two-run homers in Milwaukee's five-run first inning, and Broxton went on to drive in four runs and score
MILWAUKEE --
With Tuesday's quick strike, the Brewers have outscored opponents 33-10 in the first inning this season.
"We're just ready to play, man," said Broxton, who finished 3-for-3 with three runs scored and four RBIs, falling a double shy of the cycle and continuing a stretch in which he is hitting .383 over his last 15 games. "We can't wait to get something to drive and hit. I think that's what we go to sleep thinking about, just getting a good pitch to hit and every guy in this lineup, that's what we want to do. We want to hit something hard, early."
While Broxton enjoyed a huge night for the Brewers, Betts led Boston. His ninth career leadoff home run started a four-hit, four-RBI game that left him a triple shy of the cycle by the fifth inning.
"A big night," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "Mookie is swinging the bat exceptionally well on this road trip."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
A scare, then a smash: Brewers head athletic trainer Dan Wright sprung into action in the top of the first inning after Thames slid into a padded post in front of the dugout while chasing a foul pop. Thames shooed him away, stayed in the game, then smacked a go-ahead, two-run home run in the bottom of the inning to spark Milwaukee's five-run flurry against Boston starter
"I think it was being happy about being inside the dome," said Thames, who batted .250 on the Brewers' road trip to St. Louis and Pittsburgh. "I'm just waiting for the [outfield] panels to open. That's where it gets fun."
Breathing room: After Boston cut the deficit to 6-4 with run-scoring doubles from Betts,
"That was the game a bunch of the night, where they cut it close and then we had an answer for them," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said.
ADVENTURES ON THE BASEPATHS
The Brewers' victory covered a shaky night for leadoff man
"He had a rough night tonight," Counsell said. "He had some good at-bats to get things started tonight. But he made some mistakes on the bases tonight."
It was thought that Villar had a permanent green light to run, but that was not the case, Counsell said.
QUOTABLE
"I just think when he's getting pitches in the middle of the plate, he's not missing. We've seen for almost two years now when he gets in one of these runs, it's a lot of hard contact, impact to the baseball and extra-base hits are pretty frequent. And he's in that spot right now."
-- Farrell, on Betts
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Whatever the Brewers are doing in batting practice, it's working. They lead the Majors with 33 runs scored in the first inning while batting .326 (45-for-138) with 15 doubles, a triple, nine homers and 18 walks. The Phillies are next with 32 first-inning runs, including four on Tuesday.
"It's something we've talked about a lot," Counsell said. "When that starting pitcher is not quite settled into what he's doing, it's his first time out there in five days, it's a great opportunity -- sometimes your best opportunity -- to get that guy before he gets going."
WHAT'S NEXT
Red Sox: Veteran sinkerballer
Brewers:Chase Anderson will make his first career start against the Red Sox at 7:10 p.m. CT. The right-hander has held opponents to a .238 batting average and has given up just one home run this season.
Watch every out-of-market regular-season game live on MLB.TV.
Adam McCalvy has covered the Brewers for MLB.com since 2001. Follow him on Twitter @AdamMcCalvy, like him on Facebook and listen to his podcast.
Ian Browne has covered the Red Sox for MLB.com since 2002. Follow him on Twitter @IanMBrowne and Facebook.