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The 2001 Brewers got off to a rough start, losing their first four games on the road. Eleven years ago today, however, they returned to Milwaukee to play the first game at Miller Park.
A crane accident during construction had delayed the building's grand opening for a full year, but it was ready in time for the Brewers and Reds to play a thriller of a game in the new facility. The two teams were tied at four in the bottom of the eighth inning when Richie Sexson hit a solo home run off Dennys Reyes to give the Brewers the lead and eventually the victory. David Weathers was the new park's first winning pitcher, while Michael Tucker of the Reds hit the first home run.
The Brewers went on to sweep that series against the Reds in one of their season's rare bright spots: They lost 94 games and finished 25 games back in the NL Central.
With help from the B-Ref Play Index, happy birthday today to:
- Appleton Baseball Hall of Famer Kenny Williams, who turns 48.
- Seattle Pilot and 1970-71 Brewer Marty Pattin, who turns 69.
Today is also the 35th anniversary of baseball's return to Seattle as the expansion Mariners played their first game. We covered that in this space last year.