Wednesday, June 16, 1999

METS 11, REDS 3

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Five-homer horror for Tomko

BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Brett Tomko after giving up his fifth homer of the game. (Craig Ruttle photos) | ZOOM |

        The last two times Brett Tomko pitched the way he did Tuesday night against the New York Mets, he was sent to the minors and banished to the bullpen.

        But given the state of the Reds' pitching staff, they have no choice but to keep Tomko in the starting rotation, even after he tied a franchise record by allowing five home runs in Cincinnati's 11-3 loss at Cinergy Field.

        Tomko (2-4) continued his manic inconsistency. Coming off a 3-1 victory at Minnesota last Wednesday, when he worked seven strong innings, he yielded six runs in six innings.

        “It's embarrassing,” Tomko said. “I try not to lose my composure out there. But when things are going like that, it stinks to be out there. You just try to get it together. It's kind of a helpless feeling when balls are flying out of the park at will. I'll just try to forget about it tonight, I guess.”

HOMERAMA

Facts and figures about the six homers the Mets hit vs. the Reds:   The homers • Rickey Henderson: 1st inn. off Tomko   • John Olerud: 1st inn. off Tomko   • Mike Piazza: 1st inn. off Tomko   • Edgardo Alfonzo: 5th inn. off Tomko   • Matt Franco: 6th inn. off Tomko   • Henderson: 7th inn. off Bere   The facts   • It was the third time a Reds pitcher had allowed three homers in an inning (Tomko vs. Philadelphia April 28, Gabe White vs. Chicago May 8).   • It was the first time a Reds starter had allowed back-to-back home runs since Mets Bobby Bonilla and Brian McRae did it May 31 vs. Tomko.   • It was the first time a Reds starter had allowed five homers since Bill Gullickson against the Giants in 1987.   • It matched the Mets' record for homers in one game.

        Jason Bere, who might have been a candidate to rejoin the rotation, surrendered five runs in the seventh inning. More important, the right-hander was examined after the game and was found to have inflammation in his elbow, which could force him onto the disabled list as early as today.

        Given Bere's struggles, the bare pitching cupboard at Triple-A Indianapolis and the flickering prospects for a trade, Tomko almost surely will receive chances to improve — or endure similar shellings — despite manager Jack McKeon's concern.

        “I haven't seen him throw the ball like he threw it last year or the year before,” McKeon said of Tomko, who matched the five home runs given up most recently by former Red Bill Gullickson on June 25, 1987 in San Francis co. “For what reason, I don't know.”

Eddie Taubensee tags out Edgardo Alfonso to complete a double play. | ZOOM |

        The Reds lost by more than four runs for only the fourth time this season. But the manner in which they faltered — with shaky starting pitching — was all too familiar. Because McKeon wanted to save his remarkable-yet-overworked bullpen, which continues to lead the majors in ERA, Tomko actually exceeded the starters' 5ô-inning average.

        “We have to get our starting pitching going,” McKeon said. “I don't have the answer. Gully (pitching coach Don Gullett) doesn't have the answer. But these guys are on stage.”

        Tomko didn't respond to his cue until Mike Piazza hit the last of three first-inning home runs. He retired the next 11 Mets in a row before Edgardo Alfonzo's fifth-inning homer and Matt Franco's sixth-inning blast marred his effort further.

        For the Reds, the most disturbing aspect of Tomko's performance was that it was noth ing new.

        He coughed up four homers at Philadelphia on April 28, including three in one inning, which prompted his demotion to Triple-A.

Sean Casey grimaces after grounding back to the pitcher. | ZOOM |

        The right-hander celebrated his return to the majors with an 8ö-inning shutout on May 16 against San Diego, but three starts later he allowed three homers to the Mets on May 31.

        In other words, of the 14 homers Tomko has permitted, 12 have come in three games.

        “I don't know how to explain it,” he said.

        The first inning has been as much of a problem for Tomko as the longball. Including New York's four runs Tuesday, he has surrendered 14 first-inning runs in his 11 starts for an inflated 11.45 ERA.

        The Opening Day starter attributed his first-inning woes to falling behind hitters. Rickey Henderson, who extended his major-league record by blasting his 74th career leadoff homer, hit a full-count pitch. After John Olerud's two-ru nhomer came on a 1-2 curveball, Piazza ho mered on a 2-1 pitch.

        But Tomko offered an incomplete explanation for his improvement after the rocky first.

        “I was a little stiff in the first inning,” he said. “Maybe my preparation needs to be a little bit different — that could be a thing. Maybe I can change it up a little bit and try to get on track the first inning. I don't know. It was a strange night, I guess.”

        Catcher Eddie Taubensee said Tomko's sharpness improved dramatically after it was too late.

        “He had some of his better stuff,” Taubensee said. “He definitely had his best fastball. You could see after the first inning he was throwing it right by guys.”

        If this all sounds confusing, it should.

        “It's been a strange year,” Tomko said. “Maybe just chalk it up to that, come tomorrow and start working for my next start. That's the only thing I'm thinking about.”

       

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