Howard Earns a Start in Homecoming

Thomas Howard is an Ohio native, starred in baseball and football in high school there, and had the best seasons of his career with the Reds.

Not surprisingly, Cincinnati is among his favorite cities.

The outfielder had a homecoming on Friday when the Dodgers opened a three-game series against the Reds. He reminisced with friends and said it was just like old times.

“It’s always great to come back home, to see my family and friends,” said Howard, who started in center field in the Dodgers’ 6-3 loss at Cinergy Field.

“Whenever you go home, it’s always a good feeling, because you’re going back where you started. I’ve been to a lot of different places that have been good to me, but home is special.”

Howard, who went 0 for 4 against the Reds, grew up in Germantown and was an All-American in baseball at Ball State. He was selected by the San Diego Padres in the first round of the 1986 free-agent draft, was traded to the Cleveland Indians in 1992, then to the Reds in 1993.

“I had a lot of good times here, and this is where I really proved what I could do,” said Howard, who played for the Houston Astros last season. “I showed that I could get the job done, if I was given the chance.”

During four seasons with the Reds, Howard was considered among the National League’s top reserve outfielders. He batted .302 in 113 games in 1995, and .272 in 121 games in 1996.

And Howard, a switch-hitter, had a knack for making big plays with games on the line, which the Dodgers now know first-hand. His two-out, two-run homer in the ninth inning Thursday against the Cardinals tied the score, 5-5.

The Cardinals won in 12 innings, 8-5, on Mark McGwire’s second game-winning homer in as many games against the Dodgers. But Howard provided a boost off the bench, something that didn’t happen often last season.

“What’s going to help us, and I mean a lot, is that we have guys like [Howard] we can count on,” second baseman Eric Young said. “He went up there, and in a tough spot, but it didn’t matter to him. He knew what he had to do--and he just got it done.”

Manager Bill Russell rewarded Howard by putting him in the starting lineup Friday.

“He deserved to be out there,” Russell said. “He’s been swinging the bat well, and this is why we got him.”

But Howard realizes that his job will vary, depending on situations, and he’s prepared for whatever role he plays.

“You have to stay consistent, no matter what happens,” he said. “I had a good day the other day, but you can’t get too high when that happens, because you’re going to have the bad days too.”

TODAY’S GAME

DODGERS’ ISMAEL VALDES

(10-11, 2.65 ERA)

vs.

REDS’ BRETT TOMKO

(11-7, 3.43 ERA)

Cinergy Field, Cincinnati, 10:15 a.m. PST

TV--Channel 5. Radio--AM 1150, KWKW (1330).

* Update--Valdes, the subject of trade reports during the off-season and spring training, is making his season debut. He was among the players the Seattle Mariners requested in return for ace left-hander Randy Johnson but Fred Claire, executive vice president, wasn’t interested. Valdes finished fourth in the National League in earned-run average, and is considered among the game’s most talented starters. But he also infuriates the Dodgers, because they believe he hasn’t maximized his ability. The right-hander missed some work during the exhibition season because of a sore throwing elbow, so he remained in Vero Beach, Fla., to start in a minor league game. “I feel fine,” Valdes said. “My elbow isn’t a problem, I just need to pitch.” Tomko emerged as one of the league’s top rookie pitchers last season after being called up from triple-A Indianapolis. He was a teammate of the Dodgers’ Matt Luke at Placentia El Dorado High.