Brewers Aoki Does It Again, Brewers Beat Braves

ATLANTA – APRIL 15: Norichika Aoki of the Milwaukee Brewers hits against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field on April 15, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia. All uniformed team members are wearing jersey number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

Brewers rally in 7th to snap Braves’ 5-game winning streak

MILWAUKEE — Norichika Aoki has been coming up with some big hits for the Brewers during a surge that has taken them to the fringe of the NL wild-card race.

Aoki had a two-run double to key a four-run seventh inning and made a key defensive throw, helping the Milwaukee Brewers rally past the Atlanta Braves 4-1 Monday night.

The Brewers sent 10 batters to the plate in the seventh, but did all the damage on two hits and a sacrifice fly in snapping the Braves’ five-game winning streak.

“The few hits we got, Nori’s was huge,” Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said after Milwaukee improved to 15-2 over their last 17 home games, including a seven-game winning streak at Miller Park. “He’s really been driving the ball. He’s hitting both gaps. It’s a nice swing. It’s not feeling for the ball. He’s swinging it.”

On Sunday, Aoki’s two-run homer in the ninth against St. Louis tied the game at 4, but the Brewers lost to the Cardinals 5-4 on Allen Craig’s two-out RBI single.

Aoki, speaking through his interpreter Kosuke Inaji, said that he really wasn’t shocked by the new power stroke.

“I really wouldn’t say surprised,” Aoki said. “I’m happy with the results of the extra-base hits I’ve been getting lately.”

Read more at ESPN.