Monday, August 17, 1998

BY JOHN FAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Brett Tomko smiles from second after helping his own cause by hitting a standup double. (Steven M. Herppich photo) | ZOOM |

By one measure, Brett Tomko has had more success in his first two major-league seasons than any Reds pitcher in 30 years.

So congratulations, Brett, how do you feel?

"It's not a big deal," he said. "I'm just trying to win as many games as I can and help the team win."

Tomko beat the Montreal Expos 8-1 Sunday for his 11th victory of the season. He is 11-8 after going 11-7 last year. Tomko's 22 wins give him more in his first two seasons than any Reds pitcher since Gary Nolan went 23-12 in 1967-68.

There's more: No Reds pitcher has won at least 11 games in each of his first two seasons since Art Fowler won 12 in 1954 and 11 in 1955. Tomko, a 25-year-old right-hander, did it with his arm and his bat Sunday. He had two hits and scored two runs as the Reds completed a three-game sweep.

"A sweep is the toughest thing to do in this game," Reds manager Jack McKeon said.

The Reds ended the nine-game homestand 5-4.

"Now maybe we can pick it up on the road," McKeon said. "We've got some teams we can handle."

Brett Tomko fires to the plate in Sunday's game against the Expos. (Steven M. Herppich photo) | ZOOM |

The Reds go to Milwaukee for two, Pittsburgh for two and Montreal for three. All three teams are below .500. The Reds are 43-27 against teams below .500, and 13-41 against teams over .500.

The Reds had many stars Sunday: Reggie Sanders was 3-for-4 with four runs; Sean Casey was 3-for-3 with two RBI, and Aaron Boone and Brook Fordyce each had a pair of hits.

But nothing makes the Reds braintrust happier than a dominating performance by Tomko. For this rebuilding thing to work, Tomko must develop into a No. 1 starter.

He looked like one Sunday.

He allowed three hits and a run in the second inning, then was dominating. After Scott Livingstone's single in the third, Tomko retired the last 14 batters he faced.

"After the second inning, he was tough," McKeon said. "He worked his game plan. He did a good job."

Tomko could have gone for the complete game, but his pitch count was 107, and the bullpen needed the work.

"I could have gone longer," Tomko said. "But that's fine. It was hot. I was tired."