This Day In Blue Jays' History: June 5, 1989

               It was on this day in 1989 that the Toronto Blue Jays played their first game at the SkyDome, their current home that was unfortunately re-named Rogers Centre. However, true Jays’ fans will always call the place SkyDome and not fall for the corporate greed that is Rogers.

                But all that aside, on a Monday evening, SkyDome welcomed the Blue Jays and the Milwaukee Brewers for its inaugural game. The Jays had spent the previous 12 years and two months at the old Exhibition Stadium but were now ready for a brand new facility.

                The Jays’ starting pitcher was Jimmy Key while the first batter of the game was Milwaukee’s Paul Molitor, who would help the Jays to a World Series championship four years later. But on this night, Molitor would collect SkyDome’s first hit on a double to centre field and eventually score the stadium’s first run on an RBI-groundout by Gary Sheffield.

                Toronto would take the lead in the bottom of the second when Milwaukee pitcher Don August walked George Bell, then surrendered a two-run home run to Fred McGriff. But unfortunately this would not be one of Key’s better outings as over the next three innings, he allowed four runs to the Brewers. He recovered sufficiently to pitch a complete game but Toronto only mustered one more run when Bell hit a solo homer in the bottom of the eighth.

                Milwaukee won the first game at SkyDome by a score of 5-3.

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