Jose Altuve's multi-homer night Brews up bad memories

Jose Altuve’s magical day came on the nine-year anniversary of when the Milwaukee Brewers disappeared from the playoffs.

The 5-foot-6 Altuve socked three home runs as the Houston Astros routed the Boston Red Sox, 8-2, in Game 1 of the AL Division Series.

“As soon as I cross the white line, I feel the same size as everyone else,” Altuve said

It was just the 10th time a player hit three homers in a postseason game, and first since Pablo Sandoval for the Giants in the 2012 World Series opener against Detroit. Babe Ruth did it twice.

There have been 87 multiple home run games in playoff history and Brewers faithful witnessed one of them at Miller Park on Oct. 5, 2008 in Game 4 of the NLDS.

The team handed out “GO BREWERS” thunder sticks to the crowd of 43,934, but Philadelphia’s Pat Burrell made most of the noise at the plate.

Burrell, who entered the game in an 0-for-8 slump, belted a pair of home runs as the Phillies rolled past the Brewers, 6-2, to win the best-of-five series, 3-1.

There was some doubt that Burrell would even play because of his slump.

Brewers starter Jeff Suppan certainly wished Burrell would have been benched. The Philadelphia left fielder first home run came off Suppan, who lasted just three innings.

Burrell’s three-run shot off Suppan gave the Phillies a 5-0 lead in the third. He added a solo homer off Guillermo Mota - remember him? - in the eighth to make it 6-1 and the Brew Crew could not recover.