The first Brewers Alumni Legends Game ended with Team Wisco on top, 3-2, and the night’s cleanest number was the one that mattered most: zero injuries.
On July 24 at American Family Field, the three-inning exhibition turned on an unexpected blast from Randy Wolf, who delivered the biggest swing of the night with a two-run homer in the second inning off left-hander Doug Davis. Wolf, who pitched three seasons for the Brewers and won a National League Championship Series, said the moment caught just about everyone off guard.
“I don’t think there was anybody that thought that was going to happen,” Wolf said. “Not only that moment, just being around everyone the last two days.
It’s great that the Brewers started this last year with the Home Run Derby, reliving these old times. Seeing generations, different generations connect is pretty cool.”
Wolf finished his 16-year career with five home runs, and none came while he wore a Brewers uniform. His first homer in Milwaukee came back in 2002 at Miller Park against Jimmy Oston.
“I have to come back as an old man to hit one,” Wolf said.
Before Wolf’s homer changed the game, Team Wisco had already opened the scoring on a Casey McGehee single to right off 2004 All-Star Dan Kolb. McGehee also made one of the night’s best defensive plays, ranging to his left at third base to snag a Ryan Braun line drive in the first inning.
That was a sharp turnaround for McGehee after last year’s alumni home run derby, when he didn’t leave the yard.
The finish brought a little drama, at least by alumni-game standards. Team Milwaukee cut the deficit to 3-2 and loaded the bases, prompting manager Garth Iorg to turn to 2017 All-Star closer Corey Knebel. Knebel induced two straight grounders, though an error on the first one briefly cracked the door open.
“I had the adrenaline going,” Knebel admitted.
Braun came up with a chance to deliver one more signature moment, but he grounded out. Knebel then got Richie Sexson to bounce out and seal it.
“So much fun,” Braun said. “Grateful for the opportunity.
So much fun to reconnect with the fans, teammates, coaches, support staff, to have the opportunity to get back on the field is something all of us are really grateful for. At this stage of life, nobody takes it for granted.”
A little more than half of the 37,089 fans who were in the building for the Brewers’ 5-2 loss to the Colorado Rockies stayed for the alumni game. Among the other highlights: Brad Boxberger made a pair of nice catches in right field, Carlos Villanueva struck out Eric Thames, and Jonathan Lucroy raced home from second on McGehee’s hit.
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