Carlton Fisk

Oglivie Homers Again as Brewers Win

June 21

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.

Robin Yount Stars in Brewers Win

June 15

Brewers 6, Orioles 3
Brewers now 31-29 (4th)
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Robin Yount proved again why he is the best shortstop in the game, but he may not play in the All-Star Game in Montreal on July 13.

BALTIMORE — Today’s win was a full team effort.

Bob McClure started and held the potent Orioles offense to three runs (two earned) on six hits in seven innings. Jim Slaton went the rest of the way and did what Jim Slaton does, allowing only a hit in two scoreless innings.

The Brewers got off to a good start in the first when Paul Molitor led off with a walk and Robin Yount then launched a homer to stake his roommate McClure to a 2-0 lead.

The Orioles would take the lead in the third when Dan Ford struck again with a two-run single. It was Ford who hit a grand slam yesterday to put that game out of reach.

The pitchers took over from that point until the eighth when a surprising defensive miscue gave the Brewers an opportunity. With two down, Mark Brouhard hit a routine grounder to rookie vacuum Cal Ripken, Jr.. Brouhard would reach safely when Ripken threw high to first, committing his first error in 44 games. After Molitor singled, Yount came through again with a triple off of the wall in right to give the Brewers a 4-3 lead.

The Brewers got some nice insurance runs in the eighth when Gorman Thomas led off with a booming home run to left and Marshall Edwards brought home Ben Oglivie with a sacrifice fly. But with Jim Slaton on the mound, those runs were merely recreational.

As has been the case so many times this season, Robin Yount was the star of this show. He went 2-for-5 and drove in four of the Brewers’ six runs. He is now hitting .313 with eight home runs and 36 RBI.

“If Robin Yount is not the starting All-Star shortstop,” said manager Harvey Kuenn, “then there’s something wrong with the balloting.”

Well, there’s likely something wrong with the balloting. As it currently stands, Yankees part-timer (and owner of a .153 batting average) Bucky Dent is leading all shortstops in the voting. Robin Yount sits third. Helplessly.

It’s okay. The Yankees can play in the meaningless All-Star Game. The Brewers will just keep winning the games that count.

Game Notes: The Brewers are considering calling up reliever Pete Ladd or starter Frank DiPino from Vancouver. Ladd is 9-1 and has allowed 32 hits in 40 2/3 innings. DiPino is 7-4 with a 3.17 ERA … Ted Simmons is second among catchers in the All-Star voting behind Chicago’s Carlton Fisk. Cecil Cooper is fifth among first basemen behind California’s Rod Carew. Molitor is seventh among third basemen behind Kansas City’s George Brett. Ben Oglivie is sixteenth among outfielders … Reliever Rollie Fingers (back spasms) may be available for tomorrow’s game … Cecil Cooper, who had been out of the lineup for five games with a hamstring injury, returned and couldn’t get the ball out of the infield in four at bats.

White Sox Clobber the Crew

April 27

White Sox 11, Brewers 2
Brewers now 8-7 (3rd)
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Lamarr Hoyt and the White Sox brought a swift end to the Brewers' five-game winning streak.

Last time out, Randy Lerch was masterful. He was not Randy Lerch-like, allowing only a run on four hits. But, as has become a theme when talking about good performances this season, “those were the Blue Jays.”

April 27-28 Series Preview vs. Chicago

April 27

Match-ups
April 27 at 7:30 pm
Randy Lerch (1-0, 4.50 ERA) vs. La Marr Hoyt (3-0, 1.50 ERA)

April 28 at 7:30 pm
Mike Caldwell (1-1, 3.72 ERA) vs. Britt Burns (2-0, 0.87 ERA)

1982 Records
Milwaukee Brewers: 8-6 (3rd in AL East)
Chicago White Sox: 9-6 (2nd in AL West)

The Brewers had a day off yesterday before hosting the White Sox for a quick two game set in Milwaukee starting today. It’s an appropriate match-up, pitting streaky teams against one another. The White Sox, who started the season 8-0, have won only one game since. So while their 9-6 record may indicate a team in control, they have struggled mightily for over a week.