This day in 2003 wasn't a very notable one for Ben Sheets: In a start against the Braves he allowed five runs on eleven hits, walking one and striking out six over seven innings. Fortunately, it didn't matter: Richie Sexson carried the Brewers to victory anyway.
The Braves hadn't even come to bat yet when Sexson hit a three-run homer in the top of the first to take a 3-0 lead. He expanded the lead to 4-0 with a solo shot in the third, and after taking a break to double in the fourth he homered again in the sixth to give the Brewers an 11-5 advantage. All told, he went 4-for-5 in the game with a double, three home runs, four runs scored and five RBI. It was the second and final three-homer game of Sexson's Brewer career, and after leaving Milwaukee he never had another one.
Sexson's three homer game overshadowed an excellent offensive performance from John Vander Wal, who went 3-for-6 with two more home runs and a double, driving in six. Vander Wal played in 1372 major league games over his 14 year career, but that was one of only two games where he homered twice.
With help from the B-Ref Play Index, happy birthday today to:
- 1991-92 Brewer Darren Holmes, who turns 45.
- 1970-71 Brewer Lew Krausse, who turns 68.