MILWAUKEE — Thursday was meant to be a tribute to Milwaukee County Stadium's final day of operation as a major-league ballpark, but the afternoon's most electrifying moment focused not on the past but on a possible future star — Olympic hero Ben Sheets.

        And the Reds helped make Sheets' appearance a special one.

        Sensing an opportunity to capitalize on current events while enhancing County Stadium's farewell, the Milwaukee Brewers rushed Sheets back from Sydney, Australia, where he pitched a three-hit shutout in Team USA's victory over Cuba in Wednesday's gold-medal game. The 22-year-old right-hander was Milwaukee's No.1 draft choice last year.

        Before the bottom of the fifth inning, Sheets emerged from the Brewers' dugout, gold medal draped around his neck, and waved to the crowd that delivered a long, thunderous ovation.

        Reds first baseman Sean Casey, in the middle of throwing warmup balls to his fellow infielders, turned and began applauding. One by one, the other Reds on the field followed suit.

        “I should have gone up and shaken his hand,” Casey said. “I got chills. That was so neat. That's a memory I'll always have. I was probably just as excited as the people in the crowd. It means a lot, to represent your country and to beat Cuba the way those guys did.”

        Said Reds left fielder Dmitri Young: “That was awesome. Too bad Gookie (Dawkins, the Reds infield prospect and a fellow Olympian) wasn't on the flight with him. It would have been nice to see him as well. But that cat on the mound (Sheets) ... I don't know what his status is with the Brewers, but he made a name for himself. I couldn't help but clap.”

Reds 8, Brewers 1 Box, runs Reds-Cardinals Scouting Report Hand finishes Reese's year Brewers' Sheets shows off Olympic gold

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