Remembering Lorenzo Cain’s Top 5 Moments In A Brewers Uniform

Lorenzo Cain has held a special place in the hearts of Brewers fans ever since he made his MLB debut with the Crew back in 2010. He was traded that winter to the Royals, won a World Series with them, and then signed back with the Crew in 2018.

Throughout the last 4.5 seasons that Cain has been a Brewer, he’s provided fans with a number of incredible moments.

As Cain’s Brewers career ends, let’s look back on some of Cain’s best moments in a Milwaukee uniform.

Best Lorenzo Cain Moment #5: Cain Saves The No-No

On September 11th, 2021, Corbin Burnes got the start for the Brewers against the Cleveland Indians. He ended up throwing eight no-hit innings with Josh Hader to finish off the 9th for only the second no-hitter in Brewers franchise history.

As much credit goes to Burnes, Hader, and catcher Omar Narvaez for their work that day to achieve that no-hitter, credit also needs to be given to Lorenzo Cain.

It seems nearly every no hitter has at least one spectacular defensive play to keep the no-no alive. Is anyone surprised that Lorenzo Cain provided that highlight reel play?

On a ball that was tailing away from him into the gap, and with Burnes nearing the end of his outing, Lorenzo Cain comes flying in to make the catch and roll into a somersault and save the no-no.

That ended up being the last pitch Burnes threw in that game and the closest Cleveland got to a base hit all game.

Completing a no-hitter was the cherry on top for the Brewers pitching staff in 2021. They had been having a dominant season all the way around, especially Burnes. Getting that no-hitter only continued to aid his winning bid for the NL Cy Young award. If that no-hitter wasn’t on his resume, would he have still come out on top in the very close balloting?

Just like everyone remembers Robin Yount’s diving catch to save Juan Nieves’ no-hitter in 1987, everyone will remember Lorenzo Cain’s diving catch to save this no-hitter for Burnes.

Best Lorenzo Cain Moment #4: Rundown Escapade x2

As gifted a defender as Lorenzo Cain is, he’s also known to show his chops on the basepaths. He had speed, yes, but also smarts.

He used those smarts on multiple occasions to make the Chicago Cubs look really dumb.

With Christian Yelich caught off second by Javy Baez, Yelich works his way into a rundown long enough to allow Cain to get to second base. But Cain stops short as the Cubs run Yelich back to second, assuming both will be on the bag and they can tag out one of them. Then Cain darts back to first base where no one is, and everybody is safe.

The Cubs looked like fools for not having anyone at first base and not getting an out anywhere on that play. Cain and the Brewers looked like geniuses.

It was a heads up play that few players ever think of doing, especially in the heat of the moment.

You would think that after a play like that, the Cubs would’ve learned from their mistake, especially with Cain on the basepaths, but nope! He did it again to them in 2020 with Ben Gamel.

With Cain caught in the rundown this time between second and third base, he stays in it long enough and points to Gamel to run back to first where no one was standing and both of them ended up safe once again.

Fool me once, shame on me, but fool me twice, still shame on me.

Lorenzo Cain fooled the Cubs twice with this move and never got caught with it. His defensive prowess may lead to more highlight reel plays, but his baserunning acumen showed up in a big way in these two plays that are textbook examples of how to get out of a rundown.

Best Lorenzo Cain Moment #2: The Opening Day Walk Off Robbery

Opening Day is always memorable. The fresh cut grass, the smell of freshly cooked sausages, the hope that a new season brings, and all the pomp and circumstance just make it special. But what made Opening Day 2019 even more special was Lorenzo Cain.

On this day, the Brewers were taking on the rival Cardinals. It’s always fun to beat the Cardinals, whether it’s Opening Day or not, but it’s especially fun to do it on Opening Day and to do it in the fashion Milwaukee did that day.

It was a 5-4 Brewers lead heading into the 9th inning. Josh Hader was on to close the game for the Crew. He already had two outs and just had to face the slugging Jose Martinez.

Martinez had all of Milwaukee’s hearts drop for a few seconds. Until Lorenzo Cain came to the rescue.

You don’t get more insane and clutch than that. With 2 outs in the 9th, a potential game tying home run is robbed by Lorenzo Cain to end the game and secure the Opening Day victory for the Brewers over their rivals.

The reaction was perfect. Cain just launched the ball up in the air in celebration, it may not have even landed. Just pure elation and joy from Cain and his Brewers teammates, plus the 40,000+ fans in attendance at that game. It was one of the greatest endings to a Brewers game in recent memory and it kicked off that Gold Glove campaign for Cain in 2019.

Cain’s robbery instantly vaulted that game into one of the most memorable Opening Day games in franchise history.

When most people think of Lorenzo Cain with the Brewers, especially his defense, they think of this play. This is the first one that pops into people’s head.

But it only comes at No. 2 on our ranking. The top spot goes to a moment on offense…

Best Lorenzo Cain Moment #1: The Go-Ahead RBI Single in Game 163

As memorable as Opening Day 2019 was, few games in franchise history mean more to Brewers fans than the Crew’s victory over the Chicago Cubs in Game 163 in 2018 to win the NL Central for the first time since 2011.

For years, the Brewers were the little brother to the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs barely viewed us as rivals, their fans took over Miller Park during games against them, and the trash talk between the two sides was at an all time high.

The Brewers were tired of being the little brother, a position that only seemed to get worse after the Cubs won their first World Series in 108 years in 2016. Milwaukee was down five games to the Cubs entering September. They closed the gap and forced a tie in the standings at the end of the year. That meant a crucial Game 163, hosted at Wrigley, to decide the division.

It was a 1-1 game heading into the 8th inning. With runners on second and third and nobody out, Lorenzo Cain delivered. Cain’s hit comes at the 4:42 mark, but feel free to watch all the highlights.

Cain brings home Arcia, to break the tie and give the Brewers a 2-1 lead.

Ryan Braun

followed with an add-on RBI single to make it 3-1 and the Brewers would go on to win the game and the NL Central.

It was a magical run for the Brewers that September and into October, and Cain’s single helped secure the single most important and memorable victory of that run.

By winning that game, the Brewers proved they were no longer the little brother to the Cubs and that they were a legitimate threat in October. That 2018 season kicked off this stretch of four consecutive postseason appearances and Lorenzo Cain’s base hit secured the first division title of this run.

It’s no coincidence that the Brewers reached these four straight postseasons while Lorenzo Cain was here. He’s been an important leader in the clubhouse and made clutch play after clutch play, whether it be at the plate, on the basepaths, or in centerfield.

Thank you for the memories Lorenzo. We will never forget them.