By Michael McCleary

Luke Miller stepped to the plate and didn’t wait for the ball as he ripped it to the second base side. Before the crowd at Stony Brook field could even gasp, the ball was in the glove of the Brewster second baseman. He comically continued his trot down to the base, touching the base and quickly hopping off so he may remove his equipment and enter the field.

“You’re always told to run hard to the bag,” Miller said cracking a little smile. “I was just getting my ninety.”

With the game tied, Miller had a shot to break the game open and give the Red Sox its first lead. He didn’t.

The Red Sox offense was in a stalemate all game long in its 6-1 loss to Brewster at Stony Brook field.  They could only secure four hits in the game and were blanked from the third inning on.

“We had a lot of balls that we put in play very hard,” Miller said. “It’s just bad luck, but that’s the game of baseball.”

The Red Sox came into the game going for the sweep of the Whitecaps after Saturday’s statement victory at its home field. With the loss, Y-D returns to “Red” Wilson field on Monday to try to secure the series. The Red Sox have not played a third game in the first round since 2014, when it captured its first title as a part of the current three-year streak.

The Red Sox could not capitalize in many big game situations. In a big spot in the third inning, with two on and one out, Nico Hoerner grounded into a double play to end the inning. Expressing his frustration, immediately after he crossed the base, he removed the helmet from his head and continues to run with his momentum, holding his helmet by his side. 

Alfonso Rivas, who secured the game’s lone RBI in that fourth inning, was standing on second at the time of Miller’s lineout.  The previous play brought Carter Pharis in to score from second base, Miller throwing both his hands up to guide him home and giving Pharis a high five before he stepped into the box, and off the bat, the next pitch looked to bring the same fortunes. Unfortunately for the Red Sox, nothing seemed to be going its way.

“You can’t really get too frustrated,” Rivas said. “Everyone in the stands, everyone in the field knows that (Miller) beat the batter. It sucks.”

After yesterday’s huge win, emotions were high and the Red Sox looked to carry that momentum to the field in the game Sunday. Like many of the games they struggle offensively, the Red Sox hit a lot of balls hard and right into the gloves of the Brewster defenders.  Even still, they had a hard time coming through in big moments.

Saturday, when it mattered most, down two in the bottom of the ninth, the Red Sox performed at an extremely high level to steal the victory. But, that was Saturday, Sunday was a new day and Monday, for game three, is another.

“Yesterday was yesterday and today was today,” Rivas said. “As soon as my head hits the pillow, that games over and it’s on to the next one.”