7/22/05 Brewers (Ohka) @ Reds (Ortiz) 6:10 P.M. CST

[JB]

The Brew Crew looks to inch within one game of the .500 mark when it takes on the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ballpark tonight in the first of a three game set.

 

On the hill for the Brewers will be right hander Tomo Ohka. Ohka's last start against his former club, the Washington Nationals, proved good enough for the win, as he surrendered three earned runs in seven innings. Ohka has yet to face the Reds this season.

 

The Reds will counter with righty Ramon Ortiz, who has a penchant for allowing the big early inning run tallies. In his only start against the Brewers this season at Miller Park, he gave up six earned runs on seven hits in only two innings. Geoff Jenkins lit up Ortiz for a two run homer in the pitcher's first start after a stint on the disabled list.

 

Speaking of Jenkins, the Brewers hottest hitter is in the midst of a 14 game hitting streak, during which he is batting .451 (23 for 51).

 

GO GET EM CREW!

[bjamesw22]

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[cbustim]

Any one going to the game tonight? I am making the trip down from Columbus to see the whole series. Gotta sweep the Reds!!!!

[molitor fan]

I am hoping for a series win, that's it....although this ia a different year, remember that Hudson, the guy going on Sunday, pitched 12 innings of 4 hit, shutout ball vs. the Brewers last year. That Reds offense is nasty potentially too...While the pitching has been their demise, I think the inner-team strife has taken just as much a toll on the Reds this year....

[brettac1]

I think the inner-team strife has taken just as much a toll on the Reds this year....

 

I think it's just the awful pitching. That Milton investment looks pretty brilliant, as does the Ortiz one.

[moofnelson]

Remember last year when the Brewers rolled into lowly Pittsburgh at about the same time and got swept in a four game series. Let's not get too overconfident about this Red's series.

 

moof

[homer]

Im a little worried because of two of the three starters we're throwing out there. Ohka and Santos aren't exactly world beaters recently. let's hope for a couple of 8-7 wins.

[MadisonBrewerBlue]

How hot is Jenks you may ask. Check it out. Stats are from the last 28 days or 22 games.

 

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/sbn/sbn28hot.htm

[mikevan1818]

Is anyone else overly excited after the St. Louis split?!?!

 

I sure am. I want to see some ball played by Carlos Lee against the Reds and I'll be thrilled.

[JoeH33]

I'm excited about the split w/ the Cards (even though we only beat their "B Team"), but I actually am pretty worried about this series. I have a feeling we are going to have to put alot of runs on the board with Ohka and Santos pitching, especially in that bandbox that is the GAB

[JenksFan5]

I will be happy with 2 out of 3 with Ohka and Santos taking the hill for the Crew. As bad as the Reds pitching is, Santos and Ohka are not exactly models for dominating their opponents, not to mention that the Reds can put some runs up in bunches.

[RyDogg66]

Those people talking sweep (Im talking to you clancy) need to wake up. We've been swept so often by worse teams that assuming we'll sweep, much less take 2 of 3, is crazy talk.

 

Yeah, our chances are better vs. the Reds then say the Red Sox, but it is still probably just a 15% chance...and I don't like making bets like that.

[MadScientist]

Quote:

---

How hot is Jenks you may ask. Check it out. Stats are from the last 28 days or 22 games.

---

And the Brewers are 13-9 over those 22 games.

Hot Jenkins = winning Brewers.

[MadisonBrewerBlue]

On this day in Brewer History July 22 1995

 

 

White Sox SS Ozzie Guillen shoves Brewers Jeff Cirillo at 3B touching off a bench-clearing brawl. The highlight is the two managers, Phil Garner and Terry Bevington, swinging at each other. Chicago goes on to a 4-2 victory.

[BuckyTuba]

i like the fact that we get to play the reds 14 times in the 2nd half.

[Bucky Rules]

Quote:

---

And the Brewers are 13-9 over those 22 games.

Hot Jenkins = winning Brewers.

---

Which is an inkling into the reasons that some of us feel the Brewers are only a big bat away from being a playoff contender. Of course that bat is most likely an Albert Pujols, but still... one bat. When's the last time that could have legitimately been said?

[rluzinski]

Yeah, our chances are better vs. the Reds then say the Red Sox, but it is still probably just a 15% chance...and I don't like making bets like that.

 

Perhaps not even that:

 

Brewers Sweep: 12%

Brewers Win 2: 37%

Brewers Win 1: 38%

Brewers Swept: 13%

 

It's hard to be favored on the road, it's asinine to call for a SWEEP on the road, no matter who you are playing. Tampa Bay, anyone?

 

Two out of three would be GREAT.

[homer]

Two out of Three would be great. 1 out of 3 would be mildly disappointing.

[JoeH33]

1 out of 3 would be mildly disappointing

 

Even with Santos and Ohka pitching, 1 out of 3 would be a little bit more than mildly disappointing to me at least.

[JET15]

Who's Hot?

 

Here are the top hot hitters on both teams (>=5 AB) over the last 7 days. You can see CIN has some guys who are really swinging it right now. They can't be taken lightly.

 

 AB BA OBP SLG OPS J. Valentin 10 .600 .667 2.100 2.767 K. Griffey Jr. 18 .333 .567 1.000 1.567 Austin Kearns 5 .600 .600 .800 1.400 Rich Aurilia 23 .348 .423 .783 1.206 Adam Dunn 24 .250 .400 .625 1.025 Jacob Cruz 5 .333 .429 .500 .929 Geoff Jenkins 20 .500 .577 .850 1.427 J.J. Hardy 19 .474 .524 .789 1.313 R. Branyan 14 .357 .438 .643 1.080 Rickie Weeks 27 .296 .387 .556 .943

[MadisonBrewerBlue]

Yesterday in the game thread a question was asked about Durrington's futile attempt at playing third base in the ninth inning. As you all know he was " credited " with three errors in an inning without an AB. Has this ever happened before in the NL by a position player?

 

I'm struggling at getting an answer with names and dates on the internet....Help me

[mikevan1818]

Ok, since about 2 oclock I have been waiting like no other for this game. I think it has to do with the fact we have seen flashes of greatness this year in the last couple weeks.

 

I am just excited to see if it is all true. If they come out and lay a fat egg today it will be dissapointing. But I think that is what adds to my excitment for this game! Go brewers!!

[Ando Calrissian]

mikevan1818,

 

i'm with you. i'm trying to temper my enthusiasm and remain cautiously optimistic, but it's just not working. i keep looking at our next few series i don't get intimidated because i know that we can play good ball with anyone (i suppose we're just as likely to lay an egg, but it's no fun to think like that). that being said, if the brewers continue on this path of gradual improvement i won't be disappointed in the least.

[mikevan1818]

I need the game to start like right about now.

[JET15]

Lineups from USA Today

 

Brady Clark CF

Rickie Weeks 2B

Lyle Overbay 1B

Carlos Lee LF

Geoff Jenkins RF

Bill Hall 3B

Damian Miller C

J.J. Hardy SS

Tomo Ohka P

 

Felipe Lopez SS

Joe Randa 3B

Sean Casey 1B

Ken Griffey Jr. CF

Rich Aurilia 2B

Adam Dunn LF

Austin Kearns RF

Javier Valentin C

Ramon Ortiz P