Sun May 18 00:09:52 2008

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BoSox blow lead, rally to complete twin bill sweep of Brewers

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Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Kevin Youkilis hit the go-ahead bloop single in the seventh inning, as the Red Sox blew a big lead and then rallied for a 7-6 win over the Brewers to complete a sweep of an interleague doubleheader.

In the first game, David Ortiz hit a three-run homer and scored twice in Boston's 5-3 victory. Daisuke Matsuzaka (7-0) went 6 2/3 innings for the win, allowing two unearned runs and seven hits, fanning six with a pair of walks.

The nightcap proved to be a game of surges as the Red Sox wasted a 5-0 lead, but then rallied for two runs in the seventh to pull off the sweep on the heels of a four-game skid.

Mike Lowell homered and knocked in four runs for the Red Sox. Craig Hansen (1-2) allowed three unearned runs in the seventh inning, but managed to get the victory.

Craig Counsell and Rickie Weeks each had two RBI for the Brewers, who have lost four in a row. Milwaukee had four errors, including two in the crucial seventh inning, and left 11 men on base, going 3-for-15 with runners in scoring position. Corey Hart homered in the loss.

Dave Bush was charged with five hits and five runs -- four earned -- over six innings in the start for Milwaukee, while Boston's Tim Wakefield surrendered six hits and three runs over 5 1/3 frames.

The Brewers scored three times in both the sixth and seventh innings to push ahead before the Red Sox rallied to move in front. With Salomon Torres (3-1) pitching, Jacoby Ellsbury reached first on an error by Weeks at second to start the inning. Dustin Pedroia then hit a ball toward third baseman Bill Hall, but his throw to second was wide and runners were at the corners.

Ortiz then hit a grounder to shortstop to tie the game, and Youkilis followed by hitting a ball to short right field. First baseman Prince Fielder, right fielder Hart and Weeks all converged, but the ball dropped between them, as Pedroia raced home.

The Brewers put runners on first and second with one out in the eighth, but Hart grounded into a 4-6-3 double play. Mike Timlin retired the side in order in the ninth for his first save of the year.

Lowell stroked a two-run double in the first and blasted a two-run homer out of the stadium and over the wall in left in the third. It became 5-0 in the fifth thanks to another error from Hall, as he bobbled a grounder from Youkilis, allowing Ellsbury to score.

Hart homered with one out in the sixth and later in the inning Weeks singled with the bases loaded, scoring two more. David Aardsma walked Mike Cameron to load the bases again, but then got Ryan Braun to foul out to end the inning.

Milwaukee loaded the bases again in the seventh, thanks in part to error from Lowell and Alex Cora. Mike Rivera then grounded into a force play to drive in a run, and Counsell doubled down the right field line to move the Brewers ahead, 6-5.

Game Notes

Boston had three errors...Milwaukee's Carlos Villanueva (2-4) and Boston's Josh Beckett (4-3) are the starting pitchers for Sunday...Gabe Kapler, who didn't play in the first game, started in left field for the Brewers in the nightcap and received a standing ovation on his first plate appearance. Kapler played for Boston from 2003-06.