Ortiz is the hero as Milwaukee wins in extras over Yankees
The Brewers looked to open the series against the Yankees with a win, with Colin Rea as the starter for Milwaukee and Luis Gil starting for New York. The Yankees got off to a hot start with a homer in the top of the first by Juan Soto. Alex Verdugo then hit a solo home run in the top of the second to extend the Yankees lead.
Joey Ortiz tied the game for the Brewers with a two-run blast that brought home Brice Turang, the first of his young career. Blake Perkins then hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the third to give the Brewers a 4-2 lead.
How about a 406-FT, game-tying blast for your first Big League HR? https://t.co/xydtHYT8gv pic.twitter.com/3dMCARb9Hv
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) April 27, 2024
Having himself an April@theBlakePerkins https://t.co/70Vsbw3WXW pic.twitter.com/OcWE89ETuR
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) April 27, 2024
Trent Grisham kept the home run train going when he smashed a three-run bomb to give the Yankees the lead in the top of the fourth. Rea stayed in for six innings, exiting in a tie game after Ortiz gave the Crew another run in the bottom of the sixth when he hit a sacrifice fly that scored Gary Sanchez.
Both teams remained at 5-5 and the game went to extra innings, where Giancarlo Stanton hit an RBI double to left field to score Jose Trevino to start the 10th. Willy Adames answered back in the bottom of the inning when he hit an RBI single that brought home William Contreras.
Jared Koenig remained in for the 11th after taking the 10th and sat down the Yankees in order to give the Brewers a shot at a walk-off win.
After Turang moved the ghost runner over with a flyout to right, Ortiz came through again, accounting for his fourth RBI of the game on a single to left that brought home Owen Miller from third.
THE GAME OF A LIFETIME FOR JOEY ORTIZ ‼️ https://t.co/LtB0ijRq0u pic.twitter.com/HOnbWpAhoy
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) April 27, 2024
Rea went six innings in the win, allowing five runs on four hits and three walks with four strikeouts. Hoby Milner, Elvis Peguero, Bryan Hudson, and Koenig combined to allow just one unearned run (the ghost runner in the 10th) on two hits and three walks with four punchouts.
On offense, Ortiz had a career night, going 2-for-4 with four RBIs. Turang also collected two hits and his 13th steal of the year.
Milwaukee will look to continue the momentum in game two of the series with Carlos Rodon facing off against Joe Ross at 6:10 p.m. on Saturday. The game will be on Bally Sports Wisconsin and the Brewers Radio Network.