The ceremony was grand. The rings were great.
And then came a bummer of a game.
Lyle Overbay hit a tiebreaking, two-run double in the ninth inning off Edward Mujica, and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Red Sox 6-2 Friday in Boston’s first game at Fenway since winning the World Series last October.
“It was a special day for us. It was emotional,” said Boston third baseman Will Middlebrooks, who hit a solo homer. “For all of the guys that were a part of it last year, it was really a special the journey we were on. We had some family in town, and to be able to walk out and show my dad a World Series ring is very cool.”
The afternoon started with Red Sox players from last year, manager John Farrell and team staff receiving their World Series rings. Then, they joined in center field, raising a flag that celebrated the team’s third title in 10 seasons — their first won at home since 1918.
But following the pregame festivities — held under partly sunny skies with temperatures in the low 40s — the game ended in a light drizzle as rookie Xander Bogaerts popped to second for the final out after the Brewers burst ahead with four runs in the ninth.
“They came out swinging against Mujica,” Farrell said. “Knowing he’s been in the National League Central, they’re familiar with him. At the same time, Edward’s had a lot of success against that lineup. He mislocated a couple of balls, and he paid for it.”
Milwaukee ended Boston’s streak of winning nine straight home openers. But that didn’t take away the pregame memories.
“Done very well from previous World Series championships to what took place last year, just a well-done day,” Farrell said. “As each player was shown on the video board to each ring given, so many thoughts flashed back to a year ago. Just an outstanding year, nonetheless. Today was just a day to look back to some of the things that happened last year.”
Boston’s streak in home openers was tied with Cincinnati (1983-91) for the third-longest in major league history, ending behind 11 straight by the New York Yankees (1998-08) and 10 by Pittsburgh (1945-54).
Khris Davis doubled off Mujica (0-1), who made his Boston debut, and took third when Scooter Gennett reached on a sacrifice bunt. Overbay doubled to right for a 4-2 lead, advanced on the throw and scored on Carlos Gomez’s fourth single of the game. Aramis Ramirez added an RBI single.
Ryan Braun was 0 for 5 and was booed each time he came to the plate in his first road game following his 65-game suspension last season. Four days earlier, home fans applauded the 2011 NL MVP loudly during Milwaukee’s season opener.
Brandon Kintzler (1-0) pitched a scoreless inning for the win, and Francisco Rodriguez pitched the ninth in a none-save situation.
Mujica was the St. Louis Cardinals’ closer for much of last season, then lost that job last September and did not pitch in the World Series. He signed a $9.75 million, two-year deal with Boston.
Each starter allowed two runs, Marco Estrada in 5 2-3 innings for Milwaukee and Jake Peavy in six innings for Boston.
Milwaukee took a 2-0 lead in the second on Jonathan Lucroy’s first homer of the season and Gomez’s two-out, run-scoring single.
Boston scored in the bottom half with the help of an error by right fielder Logan Schafer, who misplayed Grady Sizemore’s single for an error that scored Mike Napoli. Middlebrooks homered in the third.
NOTES: Brewers reliever Will Smith allowed two walks with two wild pitches but no runs or hits in 1 1-3 innings. … New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady attended the game. … Milwaukee RHP Wily Peralta stumbled and fell as he ran to the third-base line when Brewers players were introduced before the game. … Before the game, there was a moment of silence as a tribute to Lt. Edward J. Walsh and firefighter Michael R. Kennedy. They died last week while battling a fire in a home less than two miles from Fenway.