Lexington’s Frelick has MLB debut to brag about

When he grew up dreaming about his first day in the major leagues, Sal Frelick, who starred at Lexington High and Boston College, never imagined a scenario quite as remarkable as the debut he produced Saturday night.

“I think this blew it out of the water,” Frelick said after going 3 for 3, driving in the go-ahead run, and making two outstanding catches in the Brewers’ 4-3 win over the Braves in Milwaukee.

The 2021 first-round pick was the first Brewer with at least three hits and two RBIs in his debut, and the sixth player in the last 25 years with at least three hits and a game-winning RBI in his first game, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

Austin Riley homered for the fifth straight game in a losing cause to tie a Braves franchise record. His three-run shot off Adrian Houser in the third gave the Braves a 3-0 lead.

Frelick, who was drafted 15th overall, made sure the Brewers came all the way back and Devin Williams preserved the lead by working out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth to earn his 25th save in 27 opportunities.

After learning of his promotion from Triple A Nashville on Friday night, Frelick caught a morning flight to Chicago and drove about 80 miles to arrive in plenty of time for the game.

His father, brother, sister, and a few friends also made it for the game, though most also had to fly into Chicago before driving to Wisconsin.

“Mom’s at home with the dog,” Frelick said. “She’ll be here tomorrow.”

Frelick hit an infield single in his first career plate appearance and followed that with a single down the right-field line to begin a two-run rally in the fifth. He singled home Jesse Winker in the sixth to tie the game and knocked in the goahead run with a sacrifice fly in the eighth.

He also made two noteworthy plays in the sixth to prevent extra-base hits when the Brewers trailed, 3-2.

Frelick made a leaping catch of Marcell Ozuna’s shot near the top of the right-field wall and then raced into the right-center field gap, jumped, and banged against the wall to snare a drive from Orlando Arcia.

O’Hearn saves Orioles in a pinch Ryan O’Hearn had a pinch-hit RBI single in the ninth inning and the AL East-leading Orioles rebounded after blowing a five-run lead to beat the Rays for the second time in three days, 6-5, at St. Petersburg, Fla.

The Orioles, who have won 11 of 14, took a one-game lead over the second-place Rays. Baltimore started July 6½ games behind Tampa Bay, which dropped to an AL-worst 4-13 in July.

Pinch hitter Adam Frazier had a ninth-inning leadoff single off Pete Fairbanks (0-4), went to second on James McCann’s sacrifice bunt, and scored on O’Hearn’s liner to right.

The Rays’ Shane McClanahan was trying to become the majors’ first 12-game winner but allowed 5 runs, 5 hits, and 3 walks in four innings.

Mariners top Jays in wild one J.P. Crawford and Teoscar Hernández both had two-run doubles as the Mariners used a fiverun seventh inning to rally for a 9-8 win over the Blue Jays in Seattle.

The teams combined for seven home runs, including each side enjoying a three-homer inning. Seattle led, 3-0, but watched Toronto rally for leads of 5-3 and 7-4, before finally taking control with their big seventh inning.

Cal Raleigh homered twice for Seattle. Dylan Moore and Julio Rodríguez added solo shots.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Brandon Belt, and Kevin Kiermaier all homered in the fifth inning for Toronto, which made it interesting in the ninth with three hits off Justin Topa, including Cavan Biggio’s RBI single to pull within 9-8.

Freeman powers Dodgers Freddie Freeman hit two more home runs, Max Muncy and J.D. Martinez also went deep, and the Dodgers routed the AL West-leading Rangers, 16-3, at Arlington, Texas.

The Dodgers, who won for the 10th time in 12 games, tied their season highs with 18 hits and five homers. Jonny Deluca had a three-run shot in the ninth off utility player Brad Miller.

Freeman, the first Dodger with 20 homers and 35 doubles before August, is hitting .328 after going 4 for 5 with his 19th and 20th homers.

Dodgers rookie righthander Bobby Miller (6-1) worked six solid innings, strking out six without a walk while allowing three runs.

Before the game, the Dodgers said lefthander Clayton Kershaw (shoulder soreness) will throw another bullpen Monday before facing hitters and the Rangers put All-Star shortstop Corey Seager on the 10-day injured list with a sprained right thumb suffered in Friday’s game.

Bibee, Guardians stifle Phillies Rookie Tanner Bibee struck out eight in seven dominant innings and Amed Rosario scored on a misplayed popup in the sixth, sending the Guardians to a 1-0 win over the visiting Phillies.

Enyel De Los Santos worked the eighth and All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase completed the combined two-hitter for Cleveland.

Bibee (6-2) allowed two hits and one walk and permitted one runner past first base in earning his fourth straight win.