Tomakazu Ohka... Graduated from Kyoto Siesho High School in Japan... Pitched for the Yokohama Bay Stars of the Japanese Central League from 1994-1998... From 2005-2006 he hosted Japanese children at Miller Park for the annual Tomo Ohka Charity Tour, a program started in 2001 to benefit young people in orphanages in his native country... His biography was published in Japan in 2002, written by Keiko Yamamori... Was mentioned in the March 16, 2003 episode of The Simpsons (Season 14) entitled "C.E.D'oh!".
2013
Played for the Toyama Thunderbirds in the Japanese Baseball Challenge League, posting a 3.73 ERA in 21 games...Spent much of 2013 developing into a knuckleball pitcher.
2008
Spent the season at AAA Charlotte after signing with the White Sox organization during spring training (Feb
21)...Spent the year mainly in the rotation, going 4-10 w/a 4.27 ERA in 20 starts (116.0IP, 126H, 55ER, 32BB,
91K) and was 1-1 w/a 3.66 ERA in 8 relief appearances (19.2IP, 20H, 8ER, 3BB, 21K)...From June 1 thru the
end of the season he was 5-3 w/a 3.08 ERA in 17 games (9GS, 73.0IP, 69H, 25ER)...Started the year 1-9 before winning 4 of his last 6 decisions...Triple A hitters batted .274 (146-532, 23HR) off
him, holding RHH to a .263 (63-240) average against...Tossed a CG (8.0IP, 8H, 3R) on April 19 at Richmond.
2006
Limited to 18 starts by right shoulder and hamstring injuries. ... Did not pitch from May 2-July 17 because of a right rotator cuff injury, but did not require surgery. Posted a 2.50 ERA in his first three starts after returning to active duty. ... Left his Sept. 15 start at Washington with a strained hamstring and did not pitch during the final two weeks of the season. ... Did not pitch at least 100 innings in a season for the first time since 2000 with Boston. ... Had a dream day Aug. 24 versus Colorado, pitching 5 1/3 innings for the win and driving in a career-high four runs while batting left-handed for the first time in his career.
2005
Went 4-3 with a 3.33 ERA in 10 games, nine starts for Washington before being acquired by Milwaukee...pitched a complete game shutout -- the first in his career -- in his first game as a Brewer, June 14 at Tampa Bay...did not
walk a batter in 7 of his 20 starts with Milwaukee...was 5-0 with two no-decisions in the seven starts that he
did not walk a batter...pitched eight scoreless innings against the Phillies on August 7...allowed only four
hits in the game and struck out a season-high nine batters...picked up the win on September 5 at Cincinnati,
allowing only one run in seven innings on three hits...struck out six in that game...appeared in three games
as a reliever in 2005 and held a 1.17 ERA (1 er/7.2 ip) in those games...went 3-1 in August with a 4.62 ERA and
22 K's.
2004
Regained top form of '02, allowing more than 3 earned runs in a start only twice in 15 assignments...was weighed
down, however, by 8 unearned runs...posted 7 quality starts...suffered from dramatic lack of run support...Montreal
scored 2 or less runs in 9 of Ohka's 15 assignments, including 3 shut-out losses...Expos scored only 31 runs while
Ohka was in the game...run support per 9.0 innings was 3.30 or 1.2 runs per game fewer than 2003...was the first
Expos starter to take the loss in each of his first 5 starts since Ray Burris lost his first 6 starts in '82...allowed 3 or less
earned runs in 4 of 5 starts in April...after 0-5 start, Montreal went 6-4 the rest of the way when Ohka toed the rubber...was
named Expos Player of the Month for May by the local BBWAA...answered a trying month of April (0-5, 5.13) by going
3-0 with a 1.51 ERA in May...Montreal went 4-1 in May games in which Ohka started, just 7-14 when he did not...posted
quality starts in all 5 of his May assignments...led the Expos in wins (3) and starters' ERA (1.51) on the month...was 3-
0 with a 1.79 ERA in 7 starts leading into June 10 injury at KC...at time of injury, ranked among NL leaders having
walked only 2.0 batters per 9.0 innings pitched...returned to the mound in nightcap of Sept. 15 twinbill at FLA...did not
get a decision, allowing 3 runs (one earned) on 4 hits in 3.0 innings...walked 2, fanned 2 in 10-4 win that completed
Expos' DH sweep and severely damaged FLA's post-season hopes...went 0-2 with a 5.54 ERA in 3 post-surgery
starts...worked 5.0 innings in final 2 assignments (Sept. 23 vs. NYM and Sept. 28 vs. FLA)...Expos went 6-9 in Ohka's
starts...all 3 wins came at Olympic Stadium (3-3, 2.87 ERA in 6 starts)...was 0-4 with a 3.83 ERA in 9 starts outside of
Montreal (last road win: September 26, 2003 at CIN)...pitches per inning were down (14.8 from 15.0) compared to
2003 season...went just 1-6 with a 4.76 ERA (21 ER/39.2 IP) in 8 starts against NL East foes...struggled against FLA,
going 0-3 with a 5.09 ERA in 4 starts...was 2-for-25 (.080) at the plate...both hits were singles.
2003
Ohka went 10-12 with a 4.16 ERA in a career-high 34 starts for the Expos...also established career highs
with 199.0 innings pitched, 24 home runs allowed and 9 hit batters...his 8 wild pitches were also a career high and more
than doubled his career total (7) entering the season...did not miss a turn in the rotation for the second straight season...tied
for 3rd among National League leaders in starts...only Greg Maddux (36) and Kevin Millwood (35) started more often among
National Leaguers...also ranked among N.L. leaders in day ERA (10th at 2.99), fewest walks per 9 innings pitched (tied
for 4th at 2.0) and hits allowed (2nd with 233)...won 7 games before the All-Star break despite posting a 4.51 ERA...went
just 3-3 after the break despite a vastly improved 3.76 ERA (39 ER/93.1 IP)...tied for 9th in baseball (tied for 4th in the
N.L.) with 22 quality starts (at least 6.0 innings, allowing no more than 3 earned runs)...10 of the 22 quality starts came
in August (5) and September (5)...closed the season with 4 consecutive quality starts...capped the season by not allowing
an earned run in his final 2 starts or 16.0 innings...the stellar ending lowered Ohka's ERA to 4.16, its lowest mark since
April 27 (3.18).
2003 Highlights:
TOUGH LUCK: Allowed 2 or fewer earned runs 8 times, but came away with either the loss or a no-decision.
3RD TIME IS THE CHARM: Became the first Expo starter to post the win in 3 consecutive starts, June 19-29...recorded
a 0.86 ERA during 3 straight wins at Pittsburgh, vs. Pittsburgh and at Toronto.
YOU COMPLETE ME: Went the distance twice-June 29 at Toronto and September 26 at Cincinnati-to double his
career total (2) entering the season...now has 2 career complete games at The Big O and 2 on the road.
LOW PITCH COUNTS: Turned in 2 of the 3 sub 100-pitch complete games posted by Expos since 1998...crafted a 98-
pitch masterpiece on June 29 at Toronto...turned the 2nd sub-100 pitch trick again in his final start of 2003...needed only
91 pitches (68 strikes) in going the distance on September 26 at Cincinnati...Bartolo Colon had the 3rd on August 19, 2002
vs. San Diego (95 pitches).
NO NO-NO: Took no-hitters into the 7th inning twice this season...June 29 at Toronto and July 9 vs. Philadelphia...picked
up 2-hit complete game 10-2 win versus the Jays, but was out dueled by Kevin Millwood in an 8.0 inning, 3-hit
performance (a 2-0 loss).
N.L. EAST A BEAST: Went a combined 2-7 with a 4.05 ERA (41 ER/91.0 IP) in 15 starts against division-foes Atlanta,
Florida, New York (NL) and Philadelphia...finished 8-5 with a 4.25 ERA (51 ER/108.0 IP) against all other clubs.
WINNING SEASON: Montreal went 18-16 in Ohka's 34 assignments...was one of 4 Montreal starters to post a .500 or
better record when getting the starting nod...ranked 3rd among Montreal starters with a .529 winning percentage in games
started.
IN CONTROL: Tied for 4th in the National League by walking only 2.0 batters per 9.0 innings pitched...allowed two walks
or less in 28 of 34 starts this season...issued more than 2 free passes only once after the All-Star break (4 on August
17 vs. San Francisco).
CHEAP LEATHER: Led Montreal pitchers with 4 errors...no other Expos hurler made more than 2...had entered the
season with just 2 errors in parts of 3 big league seasons...9 of the 14 unearned runs charged to Tomo in 2003 came in
innings in which he committed a fielding miscue...2 of the 4 errors occurred in the first inning.
CENTURY CLUB: Final assignment of the 2003 season-September 26 at Cincinnati-was his 100th career
start...pocketed the win, allowing one unearned run on 5 hits in 9.0 innings...did not walk a batter and struck out 3 in the
Expos' 5-1 victory...the complete-game effort was the 4th of his career.
POP CULTURE QUIZ: Became the first Expos player to be mentioned in an episode of The Simpsons...Bart Simpson
claimed to be Tomo while playing baseball in the March 16, 2003 episode entitled C.E.D'Oh!
MORE HIGHLIGHTS: Was charged with a team-high 14 unearned runs...was stuck with a team-high 12 no-decisions,
9 of which came during his 15 assignments after the All-Star break...went a career-high 5 starts without a decision, August
7-27...fanned a season-high 9 in only 6.1 innings on September 1 at Florida...recorded exactly 45 walks and 118
strikeouts in both 2002 and 2003...posted a .292 batting average against (233-for-799)...induced 18 GIDP's this year
after posting just 12 in 2002...picked off 2 runners for the 4th straight season...teammed with catcher's Brian Schneider
and Michael Barrett to allow only 2 stolen bases in 10 attempts this season...was credited with 2 pitcher caught
stealings...pitched better on artificial turf (3.60 ERA) than on grass fields (5.11 ERA)...went 2-3 with a 4.96 ERA (18 ER/
32.2 IP) at Hiram Bithorn Stadium...was 4-2 with a 3.49 ERA (30 ER/77.1 IP) at Olympic Stadium.
2002
Ohka emerged as one of the Expos' best pitchers, despite entering the season as the team's fifth starter in the rotation coming out of spring training... Ended his second full season in the major leagues with a 13-8 record and a 3.18 ERA (68 ER-192.2 IP), making 31 starts and one relief appearance... Led all Expos' starters in wins and ERA, while finishing second behind Javier Vazquez' 230.1 IP... Ranked seventh overall among NL pitchers in ERA, while his 3.07 home ERA stood 10th-best in the NL... Showed strong control on the mound, allowing an average of just 2.1 walks per 9.0 innings pitched (fifth-fewest in the NL)... Set career highs for strikeouts in a game (11) and longest winning streak (five games), while pitching the first two complete games of his career... Tied with Vazquez for the second-most complete games among Expos' pitchers (Bartolo Colon, four)...Ohka was named the Expos' Molson Player of the Month in August after going 4-0 in six starts with a 1.66 ERA (8 ER-43.1 IP)... Missed the final six games of the season after being suspended September 13... His suspension also included an undisclosed fine and was levied for “intentionally throwing at and hitting” ATL's Andruw Jones in a game at Turner Field September 7... Following an appeal in New York September 20 before MLB President and Chief Operating Officer Bob DuPuy, the suspension was upheld September 24, causing Ohka to miss the remainder of the season... Was one of two Japanese players on the Expos' roster, along with fellow pitcher Masato Yoshii... Member of the MLB team touring in Japan in November,along with teammate Bartolo Colon...Made his last start of the season September 18 at Florida, pitching 8.0 scoreless innings en route to a no-decision in a 4-2 Expos' win over the Marlins at Pro Player Stadium (11 innings)... Was his fifth straight start with fewer than three walks...Became the fifth Expos' player to be ejected during the season September 7 at Atlanta, as he was thrown out by HP umpire Wally Bell for hitting Andruw Jones in the fifth inning... Surrendered two two-run HR by A. Jones... Took the 4-0 loss...Pitched his second career complete game September 2 (second in four starts), beating the Philadelphia Phillies 5-1 to pick up his career-high fifth consecutive winning decision (August 7-September 2, 2002)... Gave up an unearned run in the eighth inning... Broke his previous personal best of four straight wins, set May 24-June 19 earlier during the year...Struck out a career-high 11 batters August 28 at Philadelphia, breaking his old mark of eight strikeouts set July 5 at Philadelphia earlier in the year... Started the game with five straight strikeouts, falling two short of the team record... Also marked his fourth straight win, tying a then-career high, set May 24-June 19, 2002...Pitched his first complete game August 18 vs San Diego, winning 9-2 for his 10th victory of the campaign...Scattered 11 hits in a career-high 9.0 IP... Threw 118 pitches, including 79 strikes... Was his 60th start in the majors (25 with the Boston Red Sox)...Pitched a then-career high of 8.0 innings August 1 against Curt Schilling and the Arizona Diamondbacks, taking a no-decision in the Expos' 2-1 win at Olympic Stadium... Surpassed his previous personal best of 7.2 IP, set May 16, 2002 @ LA... Vladimir Guerrero won the game with a one-out “walk-off” HR in the ninth inning...Lasted just 1.0 inning in a 7-2 loss against Florida July 27 at Olympic Stadium... Threw 35 pitches against the Marlins... Allowed a three-run HR to Charles Johnson... Was his shortest outing since April 17 vs CHI (0.0 IP)... Picked up the 8-3 win July 5 at Philadelphia, earning his first win in three starts... Gave up two unearned runs in the first inning, while holding the Phillies hitless the next three frames... Struck out a then-career high of eight batters...Lost 4-1 to the Pittsburgh Pirates June 25 at PNC Park, as the Bucs broke his streak of eight outings pitching at least 7.0 innings... Was his first loss since May 16 @ LA...Won his fourth decision in a row by beating the Kansas City Royals 6-3 June 19 at Olympic Stadium... Set a then-career high with his fourth straight win (three straight, August 13-23, 2000)...Pitched a then-career high of 7.2 innings May 16 at Los Angeles, but took the loss in the Dodgers' 4-3 win... Surrendered a leadoff HR to Mark Grudzielanek in the sixth inning, while giving up two runs in the eighth with the Expos leading 3-2... His previous best mark of 7.1 IP, set twice...Beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-2 at the Big O April 28, pitching on one day's rest after throwing the decisive inning of the Expos' 7-6 loss in 11 innings April 26 at Montreal... Tossed 7.1 innings to tie his then-career high set September 24, 2000 vs Baltimore (pitching for Boston)...His seven strikeouts broke his old personal best of six strikeouts (set three times, last April 12, 2002 @ NYM)...Took the loss April 26 in the first game of the Expos' series with St. Louis, pitching in an emergency relief role... Entered in the top of the 11th inning, facing the heart of the Cardinals' batting order... Gave up one run on two hits and two walks, as the Cardinals held on for a 7-6 victory at Olympic Stadium...Picked up the 5-4 win April 23 against Milwaukee at Olympic Stadium... Gave up four unearned runs on six hits in 6.0 solid innings pitched, walking two batters and striking out four... Received help from Vladimir Guerrero, who picked up two outfield assists at HP, and Brad Wilkerson, who gunned down Jeffrey Hammonds at 2B...Faced only six batters April 17 in a 15-8 Expos' win over the Chicago Cubs at Olympic Stadium... Surrendered six runs on five hits in the start, walking one while facing a total of six batters without recording an out... Marked the first time an Expos' starter did not record an out since a 12-7 loss July 7, 1995 @ COL (Gil Heredia – 0.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R-ER, 1 BB, 0 SO)...Beat the Reds 5-2 in Cincinnati April 6 in his first start of the season... Went 5.0 innings, facing two batters over the minimum of 15... A walk to Adam Dunn in the second inning and a solo HR to Juan Encarnacion in the fifth marked his only blemishes...Was one of 13 Japanese players active in the majors during the 2002 season... The list included 10 pitchers: his teammate Masato Yoshii, Kansas City's Mac Suzuki, Los Angeles' Kazuhiro Ishii & Hideo Nomo, Mets' Satoru Komiyama, Milwaukee's Takahito Nomura, Seattle's Shigetoshi Hasegawa & Kazuhiro Sasaki, Texas' Hideki Irabu. The three Japanese position players were St. Louis' So Taguchi (OF), San Francisco's Tsuyoshi Shinjo (OF) and Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki (OF).
2001
Ohka was acquired from the Red Sox at the 2001 trading deadline to provide a stable and promising arm in the starting rotation... Made 10 starts for the Expos, going 1-4 with a 4.77 ERA...Made quality starts in each of his outings except for his second start...Hurled 5.0 innings or more nine times out of 10...Was 3-9 overall, posting a 5.47 ERA (65 ER-107.0 IP) in a total of 21 starts between Boston and Montreal... Finished the year with three consecutive no-decisions after dropping two straight starts... Joined Hideki Irabu and Masato Yoshii to give the Expos three Japanese players in uniform during the year...Took the 4-1 loss in his Expos' debut August 4 at Houston, after allowing three runs on five hits in 6.1 innings of work... Allowed his first hit in the fifth inning, as Lance Berkman doubled to lead off the frame... Allowed three runs in the seventh inning, as he would leave the game down 2-0 before one of his inherited runners came around to score... Was first start since July 21 against the White Sox at Comiskey Park (2.2 IP, 6 H, 7 R-ER, 6 BB, 4 SO), taking the loss in a 10-3 final while with Boston...Picked up his first win as an Expo August 30 @ Atlanta, picking up the win in a 4-2 final... Tossed 5.2 innings, allowing two runs on six hits, while walking one and fanning five batters... Surrendered back-to-back homers to Brian Jordan and B.J. Surhoff to lead off the second inning, but then retired nine of his next 10 batters... Broke a seven-game losing streak dating back to April 28 with the Red Sox...Collected a ND in his start September 27 vs the Mets after allowing four runs on nine hits in 5.2 innings of work... Allowed a two-run double to Robin Ventura in the third inning before surrendering two more in the sixth on a Mark Johnson pinch-hit double... Exited the game with a 6-4 lead, but the Expos went on to lose 12-6...Finished the season with a strong performance October 3 @ Florida... Gave up three hits in 6.0 shutout innings, walking two and striking out six batters to tie his career high... Took a no-decision as the Expos won 2-0 over the Marlins... Was his third straight ND...The Expos were 4-6 in Ohka's 10 starts during the year, scoring 39 runs, or 3.90 runs per game...His last win came with Boston April 17 at Tampa Bay, getting the decision in a 10-0 final... Retired 11 of his next 13 batters in a row after a first-inning double... Won 8-2 vs Baltimore April 12 at Fenway Park, allowing two earned runs in the first 2.0 innings before retiring 12 of the next 14 batters he faced...Began the season with Boston, making six starts (2-2 with two no-decisions) before being optioned to AAA-Pawtucket May 13... Made his first start for the PawSox May 17 at Columbus, recording a ND (6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 K)...Credited with a 3-1 complete-game win May 24 vs Indianapolis in a game halted after 4 1/2 innings due to rain... Was recalled from Pawtucket June 7 and was optioned back to Pawtucket June 10...ND in the Sox home opener vs Tampa Bay April 6, giving up three earned runs in the first inning, before retiring 10 of the next 13 batters he faced... Became the first Japanese pitcher to start a Red Sox home opener.
2000
Ohka started the 2000 season 0-4, 3.64 ERA in five games for AAA-Pawtucket before winning nine of his next 11 decisions in 13 starts, going 6-1 with a 2.77 ERA...Pitched a perfect game on June 1 vs Charlotte in a 2-0 win (9.0 IP, 8 K)...The perfect game was only the third in the 117-year history of the International League, as he joined Chester Carmichael of Buffalo, who beat Jersey City 1-0 in 1910, and Dick Marlowe also of Buffalo who beat Baltimore 2-0 in 1952...First perfect game in PawSox history and the seventh no-hitter of nine or seven innings for PawSox...He threw only 77 pitches/59 strikes in a game that took only 2:01 to play...In the perfect game, the most pitches he threw in one inning was 10 in the 5th inning and he received 20-first pitch strikes, no 3-ball counts and only two 2-ball counts...Name IL Player of the Week for his efforts...Allowed just 19 baserunners to reach base via hits or walks in 31.1 innings from May 26 to June 13...Followed the perfect game pitching three no-hit innings in his next start in a 2-1 loss at Charlotte with no-decision, pitching three-hit ball through 8.0 innings (1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K)...Was 2-1, 3.08 ERA in five games in June (13 ER-38.0 IP)...Pitched 7.0 perfect innings on July 3 vs Syracuse before settling for a 5-0 complete game win (9.0 IP, 2 H, 5 K)...Selected for the Futures Game in Atlanta during MLB All-Star Weekend...Selected to the Triple-A All-Star Game in Rochester on July 12...Was the losing pitcher in the ASG, pitching the 4th inning, allowing the first run of the game in the PCL's win...Was 9-6, 3.08 ERA in 18 games before his recall by Boston on July 21...Led the International League with a 2.96 ERA (43 ER-130.2 IP) prior to recall...PawSox scored only 11 runs in his six losses....Ohka made his AL season debut in relief on July 21 in Boston 8-5 loss vs the White Sox...Made one start and lost 4-2 on July 24 vs Minnesota, hurling five innings...Won 4-2 at Texas on August 13, recording his first win and struck out career high 5 K in 5.2 innings...Recorded his second win pitching 7.0 innings on August 18 in a 6-4 win vs Texas...Won his third consecutive game 3-1 on August 23 vs Anaheim...Went 3-1, 2.43 ERA in five starts in August (8 ER-29.2 IP)...Lost his first three starts in September, going 0-3, 5.06 ERA (9 ER-16.0 IP) and Sox scored just three runs in those starts...Pitched a career-high 7.1 innings and lost 1-0 vs Baltimore on September 24...Went 0-4, 3.24 ERA in four starts in September (12 ER-33.1 IP) with Sox scoring six runs in his six losses...Selected Pawtucket Pitcher of the Year for the second consecutive season...Ranked second among AAA pitchers in ERA (2.96) and sixth in hits/per 9 innings among starters (7.65).
1999
Selected as 1999 Red Sox Minor Lg. Pitcher of the Year going 15-0 w/2.31 ERA, 140.1 IP and 36 ER in 24 minor l. starts between AA Trenton and AAA Pawt...Went 7-0 w/1.58 ERA in 12 GS for AAA Pawt. (68.1 IP, 1 CG, 1 SHO, 60 H, 17 R, 12 ER, 11 BB, 63 K)...Pitched 21 consec. scoreless inngs. for PawSox from 8/18-9/1 (3 starts)...Went 8-0 w/3.00 ERA in 12 GS for AA Trenton (72 IP, 63 H, 26 R, 24 ER, 25 BB, 53 K)...Had 19.2 consec. scoreless inngs. for Trenton 4/25-5/7 (3 starts)...Named Red Sox Minor Lg. Pitcher of the Month for May (4-0, 6 GS, 2.75 ERA, 39.1 IP, 12 ER)...Named Eastern Lg. Player of the Week for the week ending 5/2 after a 2-0 win vs. New Haven (8.1 IP, 1 H, 8 K)...Pitched for World Team in the first-ever Futures All-Star Game held 7/11 at Fenway Park...Recalled from Pawt. on 7/18 and made M.L. debut w/Sox on 7/19 (1 IP, 5 H, 5, R, 2 ER, 1 BB) vs. Fla...Opt. back to Pawt. on 7/25 after making 2 apps. (0-2, 5.2 IP, 14 H, 12 R, 9 ER, 4 BB, 4 K)...Recalled from Pawt. again on 8/23 and pitched at Minn. on 8/24 in 7-1 Sox win (1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 K) before being opt. back on 8/25...Recalled from Pawt. on 9/4 to the end of the reg. season (5 apps., 6.1 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K)...Got 1st M.L. win at Balt. 6-2 on 10/1 (3 IP, 4 H, 0 R)...Overall for Red Sox, was 1-2 in 8 G (2 GS) w/6.23 ERA, 13 IP, 21 H, 12 R, 9 ER, 6 BB, 8 K).
