Milwaukee @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 4, 2014 ) Milwaukee 6, Boston 2

The Milwaukee Brewers exploded late to spoil the Boston Red Sox’s World Series ceremony in the opener of a three-game series on Friday. The Red Sox will look for some revenge when they send Clay Buchholz to the mound on Saturday. The Brewers managed a total of four runs in dropping two of three to the Atlanta Braves to begin the season but matched that run total in the ninth inning alone in taking a 6-2 decision from Boston.

Carlos Gomez recorded four hits and two RBIs in the opener and picked up some of the slack from Ryan Braun, who went 0-for-5 with a strikeout on Friday and is 1-for-16 while dealing with more issues from the nerve problem in his thumb. Braun played only 61 games prior to his season-ending 65-game suspension last season, sitting out long stretches with the thumb injury. The Red Sox’s injury-prone outfielder, Grady Sizemore, made it through his first three games and is thriving in the middle of the lineup.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Wily Peralta (2013: 11-15, 4.37 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Clay Buchholz (2013: 12-1, 1.74)

Peralta got off to a rough start in his first full season in the majors in 2013 but turned things around by posting a 3.05 ERA over his final 17 outings. The 24-year-old Dominican did not make it through seven innings in any of his last seven turns, however, while dealing with some control issues. Peralta is 1-3 with a 3.60 ERA in four career interleague starts.

Buchholz was leading the American League in ERA and on his way to the All-Star game when his season was derailed by shoulder and back issues last summer. The Texas native made it back in time for the playoffs and battled through injuries again to provide four scoreless innings in the World Series before healing up over the winter. Buchholz is 4-0 with a 3.08 ERA in five career interleague starts but will be making his first appearance against Milwaukee.

WALK-OFFS

1. RHP Edward Mujica was charged with all four ninth-inning runs on Friday - the first runs surrendered by the Red Sox bullpen.

2. Milwaukee C Jonathan Lucroy is expected to serve as DH on Saturday when C Martin Maldonado gets his first start.

3. Boston DH David Ortiz has hit safely in each of the first four games.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 9, Brewers 1