Giants starter Russ Ortiz faced only one batter more than the minimum through six innings and the Brewers couldn't get a runner past first base until the seventh. But in the seventh, Burnitz lined an RBI single to center field to score Luis Lopez and pop the cork off the Milwaukee offense.

The Brewers finished their first homestand at Miller Park with a 6-3 record thanks to Sunday's victory.

"Usually what you do in those situations is hope (the opposing pitcher) makes a mistake," Brewers manager Davey Lopes said. "That's all it takes at times, when you've got a pitching duel going on."

Paul Rigdon pitched seven innings and allowed only two runs on a pair of solo homers to earn his first win of the season thanks to the Brewers' four runs in the seventh inning, when Rigdon was removed for pinch-hitter Angel Echevarria.

"Our bullpen was a little strapped and we wanted to hopefully give most of the guys in the bullpen the day off," Lopes said. "And we were able to because he threw a very good ballgame."

The Brewers are off Monday before opening a two-game series in Cincinnati. After another off-day on Thursday, they face the Giants at Pac Bell Park in San Francisco.

April 13, 2001

Up and down

It's been a good news, bad news kind of season for the Brewers.

After a year delay, Miller Park finally opened -- good news. Then, Milwaukee proceeded to sweep Cincinnati -- more good news. The bad news? After the sweep, the Brewers dropped two of three to division leader Houston to slip to last place.

But there was a shred of good news to come out of it: Milwaukee was only 2 1/2 games out of first heading into the weekend, although more bad news awaited on the horizon.

The San Francisco Giants.

The Brewers wrap up their nine-game inaugural homestand at Miller Park with a three-game weekend series with defending National League West champion San Francisco. Last year, the Brewers were 3-6 against the Giants -- who are in first place again -- including a 3-3 mark at County Stadium.

From there, it's back on the road for a two-game set at Cincinnati April 17-18. The Brewers, who swept the Reds to christen Miller Park, hope to keep their mastery going over them in the Queen City.

Grand opening ... finally

The action inside Miller Park was magic during the opening weekend.

The action outside? Well, that's another story.

Structural headaches continued to plague the new stadium. This grand opening was supposed to take place in 2000, but a tragic accident involving the roof panels forced the club to wait another year.

The grand opening finally took place April 6 and the Brewers celebrated in exciting style.

Richie Sexson hit an eighth-inning homer to put the Brewers in the victory column for the first time in 2001 as they nipped Cincinnati, 5-4, in front of a crowd of 42,024 including President George W. Bush, who threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

"It's something I'll carry with me forever,'' Sexson said. "It will be one of the high points of my career. It's something you dream about. You'd love to do it in Game 7 of the World Series, obviously, but this has to be the next best thing.''

Jeromy Burnitz also homered and Jose Hernandez hit a bases-clearing triple.

Jeff D'Amico, who struggled in spring training after suffering a biceps injury to his right (throwing) arm, didn't get a decision, but gave Brewers fans some hope that he will return to 2000 form as he gave up three earned runs in 6 1/3 innings. He faced the minimum nine batters through the first three innings.

The Brewers built on the euphoria from the historic opener as they came right back the next day and watched Jamey Wright pitched six no-hit innings before his club settled for a 6-1 victory over the Reds.

They completed the three-game sweep with an 8-4 victory as Geoff Jenkins and Sexson hit back-to-back homers on back-to-back pitches.

The action inside the park is good, but high winds before the April 7 game caused a chunk of vinyl tarp broke off but it didn't hit anyone and no one was hurt. In recent weeks, leaks were found in the roof.

TRULY TRUBY SINKS BREWERS: When Chris Truby hit three homers in three games against Milwaukee in a season-opening series at hitter-friendly Enron Field, it wasn't that unusual.

Home runs fly out of that park and Truby, who was not quite a preseason pick to knock off Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire or even teammate Jeff Bagwell to win a home run title, took advantage of a hot streak.

But maybe it's not the park that caused the third baseman's surge. Maybe it's the Brewers pitchers.

When Truby made his first trip to Miller Park April 10, he tagged Paul Rigdon for a homer -- his fourth homer of the year and fourth in four games against the Brewers -- to help sink the Brewers 3-0. It was Milwaukee's first Miller Park setback.

FAST FACT(S): Here are a few "firsts'' from the first game in Miller Park history:

The first pitch was thrown by Jeff D'Amico and it was a called strike to Reds leadoff hitter Barry Larkin.

The first hit was a single by Cincinnati's third hitter, Sean Casey.

The first strikeout was recorded by Cincinnati pitcher Rob Bell, who whiffed Richie Sexson swinging in the first inning.

The first home run was hit by Cincinnati's Michael Tucker. The first Brewers home run was hit by Jeromy Burnitz.

The first Brewers game winning home run was hit by Sexson in the eighth inning.

And the first "sausage race'' run in the new park was won by the Bratwurst.