Brewers right-hander Tomo Ohka, who entered his start this afternoon against Colorado with a well-deserved reputation as one of the worst-hitting pitchers in the clubhouse (if not the National League), transformed himself into a run-producing slugger.
All it took was a change of scenery.
Ohka, who was batting .087 (2 for 23) from the right side, hit left-handed for the first time in his big-league career and produced four RBI in three plate appearances as the Brewers build a 8-3 lead in the fifth inning. Ohka came to the plate with the bases loaded in the second, tried to slap a single up hte middle and knocked catcher Danny Ardoin's glove off his hand. Ohka reached on an error and was credited with a RBI.
With the bases loaded in the third, Ohka came to the plate and singled home two runs. In the fifth, he singled again to drive in Geoff Jenkins for his fourth RBI of the game. Ohka's previous career-high was two, which he accomplished twice. Brewers rightfielder Geoff Jenkins, who started his second straight game, does not have a four-RBI game this season. Entering play Thursday, he had five RBI in 34 at-bats during the month of August.
In the top of the sixth inning, Brewers catcher Damian Miller left the game and was replaced by Mike Rivera. The Brewers said Miller was suffering from concussion-like symptoms after being struck on the mask by a foul ball.
While Ohka's offensive surge was stunning and Miller's injury was unexpected, another development was not. The heavy rain that pelted the area Thursday afternoon prompted a few leaks in the retractable roof at Miller Park. fans seated on the loge level behind home plate opened umbrella's as water poured down from the roof.
All it took was a change of scenery.
Ohka, who was batting .087 (2 for 23) from the right side, hit left-handed for the first time in his big-league career and produced four RBI in three plate appearances as the Brewers build a 8-3 lead in the fifth inning. Ohka came to the plate with the bases loaded in the second, tried to slap a single up hte middle and knocked catcher Danny Ardoin's glove off his hand. Ohka reached on an error and was credited with a RBI.
With the bases loaded in the third, Ohka came to the plate and singled home two runs. In the fifth, he singled again to drive in Geoff Jenkins for his fourth RBI of the game. Ohka's previous career-high was two, which he accomplished twice. Brewers rightfielder Geoff Jenkins, who started his second straight game, does not have a four-RBI game this season. Entering play Thursday, he had five RBI in 34 at-bats during the month of August.
In the top of the sixth inning, Brewers catcher Damian Miller left the game and was replaced by Mike Rivera. The Brewers said Miller was suffering from concussion-like symptoms after being struck on the mask by a foul ball.
While Ohka's offensive surge was stunning and Miller's injury was unexpected, another development was not. The heavy rain that pelted the area Thursday afternoon prompted a few leaks in the retractable roof at Miller Park. fans seated on the loge level behind home plate opened umbrella's as water poured down from the roof.
Host of “The Drew Olson Show,” which airs 1-3 p.m. weekdays on The Big 902. Sidekick on “The Mike Heller Show,” airing weekdays on The Big 920 and a statewide network including stations in Madison, Appleton and Wausau. Co-author of Bill Schroeder’s “If These Walls Could Talk: Milwaukee Brewers” on Triumph Books. Co-host of “Big 12 Sports Saturday,” which airs Saturdays during football season on WISN-12. Former senior editor at OnMilwaukee.com. Former reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
