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Brewers feed off coach’s ejection, beat Indians, 7-1

Milwaukee Brewers hitting coach Andy Haines argues a call with home plate umpire Jerry Meals after getting ejected in the seventh inning against the Cleveland Indians, Friday in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

CLEVELAND (AP) — Andy Haines used his mouth to fight for the Brewers. They used their bats.

Unleashing a verbal tirade not meant for children’s ears, Milwaukee’s batting coach got ejected and the Brewers followed with a four-run seventh inning on the way to beating the Cleveland Indians 7-1 on Friday night.

Keston Hiura hit an RBI double in the four-run outburst and hit a two-run homer in the seventh.

With the score tied 1-1, Hiura doubled home Luis Urias off reliever Phil Maton (2-1) to trigger the seventh, and the Brewers scored two more in the inning when Indians first baseman Carlos Santana didn’t stop Christian Yelich’s bases-loaded chopper and the ball rolled into the outfield.

But Haines kick-started the Brewers’ big inning.

With Milwaukee’s Jacob Nottingham batting, Haines objected to a called strike and screamed toward plate umpire Jerry Meals with a series of expletives that could be heard in every corner of empty Progressive Field. Haines even came out of the dugout before manager Craig Counsell intervened.

Inspired by their coach’s fervor, the Brewers followed with a single and double before Santana’s costly misplay. Ryan Braun also delivered a pinch-hit RBI single in the inning.

“He always fires us up,” Hiura said of Haines. “He’s so passionate about his job, this team, the players, you can totally tell he’s completely invested in all of us. To get that from him, even on a check swing, middle early in the game, it definitely fires you up, definitely makes you go to battle for him.

“Hopefully we’re able to get a win for him and we did.”

Hiura was reminded that his coach missed seeing the best part of the game in person.

“He’s probably fired up screaming at the TV inside,” Hiura said.

Burnes (2-0) didn’t allow an earned run and only three hits to the offensively inconsistent Indians, who got just four hits. “He was nasty, man,” said Indians interim manager Sandy Alomar Jr. “He had good stuff. I was talking about we’re facing their tough guys and he’s throwing 97 mph sinker and a 92 mph cutter. It’s very difficult to square him up. You’ve got to give him kudos. He did a good job.”

Hiura added his homer off reliever James Karnichak as the Brewers won the opener of a five-game trip.

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