Jackson Chourio homered on the first pitch from Garrett Crochet and Trevor Megill stranded the bases loaded in the ninth inning as the Milwaukee Brewers held on for 3-2 victory over the visiting Boston Red Sox on Monday in the opener of a three-game series.
The Red Sox, who had scored just one run in each of their last two games, trailed 3-1 after eight innings before rallying against Megill.
Trevor Story and Rob Refsnyder walked, and Jarren Duran punched a two-out single to right to score Story from second. Rafael Devers was intentionally walked to load the bases, but Megill got Connor Wong on a flyout to right for his 10th save in 11 opportunities.
Milwaukee starter Chad Patrick allowed three hits over 4 2/3 innings, striking out six and walking two. DL Hall (1-0), activated earlier Monday off the 60-day injured list, followed with 2 1/3 innings and Abner Uribe finished the eighth before giving way to Megill.
Crochet (4-4) allowed two runs on five hits in 6 2/3 innings, striking out 11 and walking two in a 108-pitch outing.
Chourio staked the Brewers to a 1-0 lead in the first with his first career leadoff home run, sending the first pitch from Crochet 413 feet to left-center for his eighth homer.
The Brewers made it 2-0 in the fifth when Joey Ortiz hustled out a double on a grounder up the middle and Andruw Monasterio lined an RBI double over the bag at third.
Boston got on the board in the eighth when Devers’ leadoff walk chased Hall. Uribe entered and Carlos Narvaez singled Devers to third. Kristian Campbell followed with an RBI fielder’s choice.
The Brewers answered in the bottom half, loading the bases on two walks and a single. Eric Haase dribbled an RBI infield single with two outs to make it 3-1.
