Brewers 6, Yankees 2
Brewers now 36-29 (3rd)
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MILWAUKEE — It was Hank Aaron Hall of Fame Night at County Stadium, and they were handing out Ben Oglivie home run balls. Or so it seemed…
Prior to the game, Hammerin’ Hank was presented with $1 for every special Hank Aaron general admission ticket sold. The money would go to the Hank Aaron Youth fund, which would also announce two scholarships for local high school students.
But Oglivie took the occasion to hit like the former Milwaukee Braves and Brewers icon, slugging his fourth home run in two days. That’s four home runs in seven plate appearances. And if you want to remove the walks, it was four home runs in five official at bats. Ridiculous.
Oglivie attributes the recent power surge to a change in his approach: “I had a loop in my swing, and I had a tendancy to drag my hands through,” said Oglivie, who now has 16 home runs on the season. “I wouldn’t have the power I normally do.” He’s getting his hand through just fine now, thank you.
Those who are paying attention also notice that Oglivie is holding the bat higher, staying back on the pitch and getting better extension. But you don’t care about that. All that matters are the results.
Havey’s Wallbangers keep hitting home runs. If it’s not Oglivie, it’s someone else (Paul Molitor also hit his seventh tonight). But it’s not just the chick-digging home run balls. For the sixth time in seven games, Milwaukee pitching has kept their opponents to three or fewer runs (well, five of six if you don’t count the 2-2 tie with the Orioles). No wonder they’ve won six straight.
And while the Red Sox may have won today to maintain a four-game lead over the Brewers, a very important series is on the horizon. Once this series ends with the Yankees, the Brewers have a day of rest before heading to Boston for a four-game series at Fenway.
Apply for your sick days now…
Game Notes: The Brewers are seven games over .500 for the first time this season … In addition to his homer, Molitor had two doubles and a single, going 4-for-4 … Pete Rose tied Hank Aaron with hit number 3,771 today … Carl Yastrzemski moved ahead of Nap Lajoie for ninth on the all-time hit list with number 3,253 … All-Star vote updates have been released and Ted Simmons is second to Chicago’s Carlton Fisk, Paul Molitor is fourth to Kansas City’s George Brett, Cecil Cooper is third to California’s Rod Carew, Jim Gantner is fifth to New York’s Willie Randolph, and Robin Yount is second to Yankee Bucky Dent.