Booster Shot

Albert Chen

April 17, 2006

With a 5-1 record at week's end, the Brewers were off to their best start since 1987 and were the early surprise of the National League. Milwaukee fans were so giddy, they were cheering even the players who struggled at the outset: On April 4 first baseman Prince Fielder, 21, struck out for the seventh time in his first eight at bats, but when he next stepped to the plate, the crowd of 15,515 at Miller Park gave him a standing ovation. "I appreciate it," Fielder (right) said of the fan support. "You don't expect it in that situation." The following day he hit a game-winning single against the Pirates, and last Saturday the son of former All-Star slugger Cecil Fielder homered in a 5-4 win over the Diamondbacks.