On this day in 1975, Brewer starting pitcher Bill Travers gave the phrase "tough luck loser" new meaning.
On a Wednesday night at County Stadium Travers squared off with Bert Blyleven, and had one of the best outings of his career. He shut the Twins out for ten innings on just four hits, walking four and striking out two. Unfortunately, he was matched pitch-for-pitch by Bert Blyleven, and the game remained scoreless into the eleventh inning.
Travers got the first batter in the eleventh (Rod Carew) to ground out, but hit the second (first baseman Craig Kusick) with a pitch and walked the third (outfielder John Briggs) before being lifted from the game. He was replaced by Tom Murphy, who gave up a single to Tony Oliva and allowed the winning run to score.
Kusick scored the winning run and, by the way, tied a major league record by being hit by three pitches in the game.
With help from the B-Ref Play Index, happy birthday today to:
- 2004-05 Brewer Trent Durrington, who turns 36.
- 1981-83 Brewer Marshall Edwards, who turns 59.
- 1970 Brewer Ray Peters, who turns 65.
Also, happy anniversary to relief pitcher Mike Buddie, who had his only major league hit on this day in 2001.