For much of the last month, Rhys Hoskins hasn’t been the slugger the Milwaukee Brewers hoped he would be when they signed him this offseason.
That took a turn Monday night, however, when Hoskins entered the game in the sixth inning.
Hoskins was great.
The score of the box:Brewers 6, Rangers 3
With the Brewers trailing 3-1 and the bases loaded, Hoskins turned on a first-pitch fastball from Texas Rangers left-hander Jacob Latz and sent it over a frozen rope into the side stands. left for a decisive grand slam.
The homer, Hoskins’ first since June 3 and the second in his last 71 at-bats, propelled the Brewers to a 6-3 victory to open the three-game series at American Family Field. Milwaukee improved to 46-33.
Jared Koenig goes in and out
Immediately after the Brewers offense turned the game around with a five-run sixth, the Rangers threatened to come back. Three Texas batters walked Brewers reliever Jared Koenig in the seventh — Koenig retiring top threats Marcus Semien and Corey Seager in the process — but the sturdy left-hander got away with striking out Nathaniel Lowe while swinging at three throws.
Joel Payamps replaced Koenig in the eighth and retired all three batters he faced. Trevor Megill earned his 16th straight save by pitching the ninth.
Rhys Hoskins is doing well
For the most part, Hoskins’ life has been difficult since returning from the injured list in late May. He started the day with 13 hits in 64 at-bats, with only three extra-base hits and six walks, against 24 strikeouts, then made things worse with a strikeout. bat in the second inning and a groundout with a man in scoring position in the fourth inning.
He flipped the switch the next time.
After William Contreras doubled to start the inning, the Rangers went to left-handed reliever Latz out of the bullpen, ending starter Michael Lorenzen’s day. Christian Yelich and Willy Adames battled to get the full count before each drew a walk to load the bases with no one out for Hoskins.
Hoskins got a leadoff fastball and a big ball to boot, which he sent fair and sharp off the pitch to go 105.4 mph right off the bat for a grand slam to give No. 5 Milwaukee the lead -3.
Seven of the first eight Brewers to come to the plate in the sixth reached base, the last being Andruw Monasterio with a base hit to center to score Blake Perkins, who had walked and stolen second base, to increase the lead to three.
More:On emotional night, Brewers’ Rhys Hoskins makes young Phillies fan cry with joy
Brewers go for it, give it back
The Brewers faltered early with runners in scoring position, but managed a run when Jackson Chourio scored on a wild pitch with two outs after hitting a one-out single to center.
But after Brice Turang stepped out into foul territory to strand the tying run to end the fifth, Rangers outfielder Adolis Garcia salvaged the run with a solo homer off reliever Elvis Peguero to lead off the top of the sixth.
Freddy Peralta fails in fifth position
The Rangers spent the first innings raising Brewers starter Freddy Peralta’s pitch count. It produced no trace, but it may have cracked his armor. In the fifth, Texas surged.
Peralta had a runner on first and an 0-2 count against Rangers No. 9 hitter Leody Taveras with two outs in the fifth, but ultimately issued a walk to cap a nine-pitch plate appearance. That error proved important when leadoff pitcher Marcus Semien threw a changeup to left for an RBI single to open the scoring moments later.
Corey Seager then worked the eighth different complete count against Peralta on the night, then hammered an RBI single into the opposite field to make it 2-0.
Peralta capped his night by striking out Josh Smith in the ninth full count for his sixth out. Peralta threw 104 pitches.
Brewers Schedule
Brewers vs. Rangers, 7:10 p.m. Tuesday: Milwaukee RHP Bryse Wilson (4-3, 4.24) vs. Texas LHP Andrew Heaney (2-8, 4.21). Broadcasts: TV – Bally Sports Wisconsin. Radio-AM-620.
Brewers vs. Rangers, 1:10 p.m. Wednesday: Milwaukee RHP Colin Rea (6-2, 3.62) vs. Texas RHP Nathan Eovaldi (4-3, 3.14). Broadcasts: TV – Bally Sports Wisconsin. Radio-AM-620.
