If you had to pick a way to start off a baseball game, you could do worse than a triple. On this day in 1991 Paul Molitor proved that fact, as he led off the Brewers' game against the Twins with a three bagger and went on to hit for the cycle.
As mentioned above, Molitor tripled (and went on to score) leading off the game. He then picked up the single during another Brewer run-scoring inning in the third, doubled with one out in the fifth, and hit a solo home run to lead off the eighth to finish the feat. The Brewers won the game 4-2 despite the fact that Molitor's teammates went a combined 5-for-31 (batting .161) in the game, and Robin Yount had the only other extra base hit.
At the time Molitor became the fourth Brewer ever to hit for the cycle, joining Mike Hegan (1976), Charlie Moore (1980) and Yount (1988). Chad Moeller (2004) and Jody Gerut (2010) have since joined them.
With help from the B-Ref Play Index, happy birthday today to:
- Former Brewer minor leaguer Michael Brantley, who turns 24.
- 1997-00 Brewer Steve Woodard, who turns 36.
- 1983-85 Brewer Rick Watts, who turns 59.