Howell Keeps Hitting, Finally Escapes Dominance of Stewart

For Jack Howell, breaking out of a personal slump against Oakland’s Dave Stewart couldn’t have come at a better time.

Before Tuesday night’s game against Oakland, he was four for 27 (a .148 average) lifetime against Stewart, the Athletics’ starter.

Well, Howell not only is up to seven for 31 now, he also erased some painful memories of failure against Stewart, the American League starter in the All-Star game.

Howell hit a 2-1 pitch from Stewart about 10 rows deep into the right-field bleachers for a two-run home run in the second inning. He followed with sharp singles in the fourth and sixth innings as the Angels, won 4-0.

Howell’s home run was his 14th of the season, tops on a club that leads the majors with 93. It was his second home run in as many nights; Howell’s solo shot in the eighth inning Monday night provided the decisive run in a 5-4 victory.

So what made the difference for Howell on Tuesday?

“I think I was able to get ahead in the count and sit on his fastball,” Howell said.

“If you get behind in the count, you have to face his forkball, which is probably one of the best pitches in baseball.

“It’s the pitch that’s given me and the rest of the team the most trouble.”

But for a change, Stewart (14-6) fell behind the Angel hitters and they were able to hit his fastball.

Stewart gave up two other home runs--solo homers by Chili Davis and Dick Schofield. It was the second time since the All-Star break that Stewart had given up three home runs in a game.

Before the Angels came to Oakland, Howell had been slumping. Monday’s homer ended a one-for-26 drought.

“I had the real good June and a pretty good (first part of) July,” Howell said.

“At least until I went 0 for 19 (as part of the one-for-26 slump).”

Howell’s three hits increased his average to .230, his best in a week.

“To fold it up after the first month of the season would have been stupid,” Howell said.

“I didn’t do anything to my swing mechanically. I was just trying to stay aggressive and positive. I was trying to stay relaxed. That’s how you get out of slumps.”

He has been encouraged by recent developments. A year ago, Howell hit 16 home runs all season. But he should pass that mark sometime soon.

“The home runs have been coming along,” said Howell, who had homers in back-to-back games for the fourth time this season.

Howell said he sees a pattern in his home-run hitting.

“Going back to 1987 (when he hit a career-high 23 homers), that year they seemed to come in bunches,” he said.

“I don’t know if the style of a home run hitter is to hit them in bunches. But they come that way.”

And if Howell can stay ahead in the count, as he did against Stewart, he has proved to be a capable power hitter.

Said Davis: “Man-for-man we match up with (Oakland for power). We may not have a (Jose) Canseco who hits 30 or 40 home runs, but we’ve got some guys who are going to hit 20.”

Davis and Howell could be among them.