News
Ohka out to prove he belongs in bigs
Cleveland (29-40) at Chicago (32-31), 1:05 p.m. ET
By Jesse Temple / MLB.com
06/19/09 9:53 PM ET
CHICAGO -- On the rung of Japanese pitching prospects to hit the Major Leagues, Tomo Ohka ranks several notches below compatriots Hideo Nomo and Daisuke Matsuzaka. |
He does not hold the two Major League no-hitters and Rookie of the Year honor like Nomo. He does not possess the $50 million contract like Matsuzaka. He does not whip up a media frenzy like they have back home.
Heck, he does not even own a winning record in his big league career. Yet here Ohka is, 10 years into a seesaw Major League career, still fighting, still trying his best to latch on to a pro ballclub, even if it's only through the end of the regular season. "I am not like other Japanese pitchers with a big contract," said Ohka, who still speaks with a heavy Japanese accent. "When I came at 23 years old, I just had a Minor League contract. I didn't have any translator. I didn't have my own trainer. I didn't bring my own stuff. Maybe that's why I can stay here a long time." The 33-year-old righty from Kyoto is a journeyman in every sense of the word. He has pitched parts of his Major League career with Boston, Montreal, Washington, Milwaukee, Toronto and now Cleveland. He has spent parts of seven of those seasons in the Minors pitching from Trenton to Tacoma. All for a shot like the one he'll get on Saturday. Ohka will start Saturday's game against the Cubs, making just his second start of the season. His last start came on June 13 against the Cardinals, when he allowed two runs on seven hits in seven innings while striking out two and walking none. Ohka had not started a Major League game before then since June 6, 2007, when he allowed five runs on 10 hits in 3 1/3 innings pitched while with Toronto against Tampa Bay. He was immediately designated for assignment following that outing. "The guy throws it over, trusts his stuff," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "A veteran guy who knows what he needs to do. He can cut it, sink it, whatever he needs to do. He had success out of the bullpen for us a couple of times. He pitched well for us in Triple-A. We didn't really give him much of an opportunity this spring just because we were working with other guys." In 10 big league seasons, Ohka is 50-64 with a 4.14 ERA. Ohka signed a Minor League contract with the Indians in December 2008 and came to Spring Training looking to make the big league roster. On March 15, however, he was reassigned to the Minors. Still, Ohka kept fighting. "I played with him in Columbus earlier on this year, and he was lights out down there starting," Indians pitcher Jeremy Sowers said. "He's a veteran pitcher. He knows how to get things done." Pitching matchupCLE: RHP Tomo Ohka (0-1, 4.24 ERA)
Ohka was more than just OK in his first start for the Indians. The two solo homers he gave up to Albert Pujols served as the only damage off him in an otherwise strong seven innings against the Cardinals. He allowed seven hits with no walks and two strikeouts. But the homers were enough to send him to a loss. Ohka took over the rotation spot that opened when Fausto Carmona was demoted to the rookie-level Arizona League to get straightened out, and Ohka's inclusion in the rotation is a classic example of desperate times calling for desperate measures. But in his first Major League start since June 6, 2007, when he was with the Blue Jays, Ohka looked like he belonged. CHC: LHP Ted Lilly (7-4, 2.94 ERA)
Lilly picked up his 10th quality start in his last outing against the Twins. The lefty gave up two runs on nine hits over 7 2/3 innings but missed getting the win. He is 4-1 with a 1.48 ERA in six home starts, going six innings in each of those games. He has struck out 38 at home while walking five over 42 2/3 innings, and in his last start, did not walk a batter. He is 4-3 with a 4.28 ERA in 11 career games vs. the Indians. Tidbits
Cliff Lee has lowered his ERA from 3.92 to 2.94 over his last nine outings, boasting a 2.35 ERA (17 earned runs in 65 innings) over that stretch. ... With three RBIs on Friday, Victor Martinez now has a team-leading 53 on the season in 67 games. He is on pace for 128 this season, which would surpass his career high of 114 set in 2007. ... Friday marked the second time this season that the Indians hit two or more three-run homers in a game. They last accomplished the feat on April 18 at New York, hitting two three-run homers and a grand slam. ... With an infield single in the fourth, Ben Francisco snapped a 0-for-17 skid. Tickets
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• Sunday: Indians (Jeremy Sowers, 1-4, 5.14) at Cubs (Randy Wells, 0-3, 2.55), 2:20 p.m. ET
• Monday: Off-day
• Tuesday: Indians (David Huff, 2-2, 7.09) at Pirates (Ian Snell, 2-7, 5.08), 7:05 p.m. ET
Jesse Temple is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
