Josh Hader hears cheers from Brewers fans day after latest apology for offensive tweets

Tom Gatto

Josh Hader hears cheers from Brewers fans day after latest apology for offensive tweets image

Brewers fans were in a forgiving mood Saturday night when All-Star reliever Josh Hader took the mound.

Thousands of people in Miller Park stood and applauded for him multiple times during his two-inning stint, his first action since racist, homophobic and misogynistic tweets he posted in 2011 and 2012, when he was a teenager, resurfaced during Tuesday's All-Star Game. Hader publicly apologized for the tweets after Tuesday's game and before the Brewers' game Friday.

The hometown reception likely made it easier for Hader to negotiate the Dodgers' lineup. He allowed no runs and one hit and struck out four of the seven batters he faced while protecting a two-run lead.

"It means a lot, having Milwaukee's support and knowing that they know my true character and just forgive me for my past because that's not who I am today," Hader told reporters in the Brewers' clubhouse after a 4-2 Milwaukee victory.

He struck out his first batter, Logan Forsythe, to lead off the seventh, and then got new Dodger Manny Machado to pop out to shallow right field.

NO PENALTY FROM MLB: Hader ordered to undergo sensitivity training 

(Side note: Brewers fans are booing Machado this weekend essentially because Milwaukee management didn't offer the Orioles enough to acquire him.)

Hader then allowed a double to Matt Kemp before retiring Max Muncy on a sharp line drive to first baseman Jesus Aguilar.

In the eighth, Hader struck out Justin Turner, Chris Taylor and Cody Bellinger in succession, which elicited one last standing O from the Wisconsin fans. During the frame, Brewers TV analyst Bill Schroeder talked about Hader's ability to "compartmentalize" amid the furor surrounding the tweets.

"I'm not expecting that everbody's going to forgive me early, but I hope that people see my true character today," Hader said.

Hader's hateful teen posts resurfaced Tuesday night after he served up a three-run home run to the Mariners' Jean Segura in the All-Star Game. The 24-year-old left-hander spoke with reporters at Nationals Park, which isn't too far from his Maryland home; he said the tweets were "inexcusable" but did not represent his current beliefs.

Aguilar and Brewers outfielder Lorenzo Cain expressed immediate support for the man they've worked with this year — and for the pitcher who could make a big difference in the National League Central division race. On Friday, the entire Brewers team stood in solidarity with Hader as he addressed the media after first apologizing to his fellow players.

Tom Gatto

Tom Gatto Photo

Tom Gatto joined The Sporting News as a senior editor in 2000 after 12 years at The Herald-News in Passaic, N.J., where he served in a variety of roles including sports editor, and a brief spell at APBNews.com in New York, where he worked as a syndication editor. He is a 1986 graduate of the University of South Carolina.