Longtime major league shortstop Jose Hernandez's first season as a Brewer in 2000 was something of a disappointment. After coming over as a free agent he posted a .244/.315/.372 line in Milwaukee, his lowest OPS in several years.
On this day in 2001, though, Hernandez had a big day. Batting seventh and playing shortstop against the Astros, Hernandez hit a pair of home runs, setting a career high and tying a Brewer franchise record with seven RBI.
The fun started in the fifth inning when Hernandez hit a grand slam to give the Brewers a 7-2 lead, and continued when he homered again the next inning to drive in three more runs and advance the advantage to 12-3. Those were his only two hits in the game, but they were more than enough.
At that point Hernandez was only the second Brewer ever to drive in seven in a game, joining Ted Kubiak in 1970. Four other Brewers have since matched the feat, including Jonathan Lucroy twice last season.
With help from Brewerfan.net and the B-Ref Play Index, happy birthday today to:
- 2012 AZL Brewer Edgardo Rivera, who turns 19.
- 2012 Wisconsin Timber Rattler Max Walla, who turns 22.
- 2000 Brewer Matt Williams, who turns 42.
- 1960-61 Milwaukee Brave Charlie Lau, who would have turned 80.
- 1953 and 1961 Milwaukee Brave Johnny Antonelli, who turns 83.
- Woodland, Wisconsin native and UW-Madison alum Addie Joss, who would have turned 133. Joss played nine seasons with the Indians from 1902-10 and Chris Jensen recently named him the best Wisconsin-born player born in April.
Today is also the 33rd anniversary of the Brewers hitting two grand slams in the same inning against the Red Sox in 1980, which we covered in this space last year, and Brewer pitchers walking ten batters in an 8-5 loss to the Cubs in 2009, which we covered in this space two years ago.