BOSTON– Jarren Duran got a walk-off in the eighth inning and the Boston Red Sox defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 2-1 on Sunday to salvage the series finale.
Rafael Devers made a sacrifice for Boston, which completed just its second series against the Brewers at Fenway Park since 2015. The Red Sox improved to 9-0 on Sundays.
William Contreras’ RBI single was driven in by the Brewers.
Ceddanne Rafaela opened the eighth with a double into the left corner against Elvis Peçaro (4-2) and scored on Duran’s single.
“You think something big is going to happen to him,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said of Duran. “He looks so comfortable at the plate.”
Justin Slaten (3-2) struck out the side in the eighth, and Kenley Jansen struck out two in a perfect ninth, his ninth save in 10 chances, the 429th of his career.
Milwaukee, the NL Central leader, has won three of the previous four.
Red Sox starter Tanner Houck gave up one run in six innings, lowering his ERA to 1.90 — Boston’s lowest after 11 starts since Clay Buchholz’s 1.62 in 2013.
“Every day you feel like starting, let’s give ourselves a good start,” Cora said. “We had two bad innings in three days and lost two. That’s how I approach it. Avoid scanning.
Benches and bullpens emptied after the final out of the top of the seventh.
Red Sox pitcher Chris Martin ran to cover first Christian Yelich’s final grounder. As he walked toward his dugout, Milwaukee first base coach Quintin Berry appeared to say something.
Martin turned around before first base umpire Ryan Additon stood in front of him as players in the dugouts and bullpens filed onto the field. No punches were thrown.
“I think their pitcher showed some emotion and I think our guys thought it was directed at them,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “I don’t know if it really was or not. I’m not going to speculate what the kid was doing. But if you’re looking at someone and you’re saying that, it could be interpreted that you’re saying that to them.”
Martin said he was upset because the Brewers tried to strike so often.
“I probably said some things under my breath,” he said. “That was kind of targeted for that shift. I’ll let you all determine what those things were. Heat of the moment. They bunted twice. You see there, they stayed there at the end of the game. I did not like. I know it’s part of the game. …I warned them. In this league, swing the bat.”
Devers’ sacrifice fly gave Boston a fourth-inning lead after Wilyer Abreu tripled from the center triangle. Recalled from Triple-A Nashville before the game, Oliver Dunn led off the Brewers’ fifth with a single, stole second and scored on Contreras’ single.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Red Sox: LF Tyler O’Neill, who left Saturday’s game with soreness in his right knee, had the day off. Cora also doesn’t expect to face him on Monday.
NEXT
Brewers: LHP Robert Gasser (2-0, 2.65 ERA) is scheduled to face LHP Justin Steele (0-2, 5.68) when he opens a four-game home series against the Cubs on Monday.
Red Sox: RHP Cooper Criswell (2-1, 2.86) is set to start the opener of a three-game series at Baltimore on Monday. LHP Cole Irvin (4-2, 3.15) is slated to go to the AL East-leading Orioles.
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