Best pitcher hitting moments in Milwaukee Brewers history
By Kenny Jilek
Big Hits
Yovani Gallardo Walk-Off Double May 27, 2014
We’ll again start with Gallardo, the only player with two entries on this list and probably the best hitting pitcher in Milwaukee Brewers’ history. He’s so good, in fact, that he was used as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the 10th inning on this particular night in 2014.
A night that featured players such as Irving Falu, Elian Herrera, and Logan Schafer for the Brewers. If that brought back any bad memories for people that watched that team, you can take comfort in knowing Manny Machado committed an error in that game. No other Brewer pitcher has ever hit a walk-off. Gallardo is the only one and he didn’t even do it as a pitcher. The sight of a pitcher being mobbed at home for an extra-inning walk-off is one that is unexpected and extremely rare.
Randy Wolf NLCS Double October 13, 2011
Sticking with doubles, the next two are connected to each other in a way. Both Randy Wolf and Wade Miley hit doubles in the NLCS on exactly the same day of the year seven years apart. Wolf’s came off of future Brewer Kyle Lohse while pitching a 7-inning 2-run gem of a game that tied the series at 2-2. In the playoffs, runs and hits are at a premium so a pitcher getting a hit, much less an extra-base hit is special.
Wade Miley NLCS Double October 13, 2018
Miley hit his double off of probably-not-future-Brewer Hyun-Jin Ryu seeing as the Blue Jays signed Ryu to a 4-year contract and he’s already 33. Miley actually went 2-2 in the game with a single, halfway to the cycle, albeit the obviously easiest half anyone can get. These are the only two doubles in Brewer playoff history, though Brewers’ playoff history is not a big history, the only two doubles from pitchers were hit on the same day.
Jim Colborn 19th Inning Triple May 12, 1972
This entire game is absolutely ridiculous. Jim Colborn pitched seven innings in relief. SEVEN, that’s more than either of the starters went. Then in the 19th inning in his third at-bat of the game as a relief pitcher, he hit a triple. And then he didn’t score so they played on. The game was suspended in the 22nd inning and picked up the next day where the Brewers won 4-3. There have only been 11 Brewer pitchers to hit a triple. Of course, none of the others were in extra innings, but there might be one that’s almost better in its own distinct craziness.
Eduardo Rodriguez Triple September 9, 1973
The special thing about Rodriguez’s triple is that he scored on the play. After an error by second baseman Jack Brohamer, who has his own place in baseball history for hitting a home run while wearing shorts, Rodriguez ran home and scored on a triple, a play many refer to as a “Little League home run”. Allowing a pitcher to hit a triple is bad enough for the opposing team, but then letting him score because of an error has to be just utterly humiliating, especially since that run pushed the lead to 13-5. If you think a 19th inning triple and a Little League home run are crazy, get ready because we’re about to enter the realm of ridiculousness.