He Can Play, but He’s Still ‘Robby’s Brother’

He’s the other Alomar. A bigger, dry-mouth version of Roberto, the Baltimore Orioles’ all-star second baseman.

“No matter what I do I will be ‘Robby’s brother,’ ” said Indian catcher Sandy Alomar Jr., who hit one of the two home runs in the ninth inning off Angel reliever Troy Percival that gave Cleveland its 10-8 victory Sunday.

“People forget I won the Gold Glove before he did, that I’ve been to the All-Star game four times. But it doesn’t bother me. Robby is a complete player, and until I can prove I can stay healthy a full season, people only see me as injury-prone.”

If Alomar could play most of his games in Anaheim Stadium, people might talk about him the way they do Mike Piazza.

In the weekend series against the Angels, Alomar went six for 13. Along with the three home runs, he had five runs batted in. In his career at Anaheim Stadium, he is batting .316 (31 for 98) with six home runs and 18 RBIs.

Alomar may know this stadium better than others in the American League. When his father, Sandy, played second base for the Angels from 1969-74, both Alomar brothers spent time running through the clubhouse and playing catch in the outfield before games.

“I still remember the [first] stadium, when it wasn’t enclosed and you could see the Big A with the lighted halo in center field,” Alomar said. “I watched Clyde Wright pitch, Jim Fregosi play shortstop. To play on the same field where your father played is special.”

On Sunday, Alomar hit his third home run in three days. The one other time in his career was May 26-29, 1984.

Last season he was one of three Indians--Albert Belle and Jim Thome were the others--were the last to take Percival deep in the ninth inning, in a 4-1 victory May 10.

Including Sunday’s game, Alomar is now two for eight lifetime against Percival, and both hits are home runs. He’s also struck out twice.

Alomar said that although Percival was throwing hard, he did not think it was his best stuff.

“You have to be lucky to homer off him,” Alomar said. “But I think the guy I saw today was struggling right now. He may be struggling with his health. I know what it is like to struggle with health. I hope he is OK because he is a good pitcher.

“At the same time we are a good fastball-hitting team. We’ve proven we have power from top to bottom in the lineup. That’s why we feel we are never out of a game.”