Cromer Has a Blast in Comeback

Tripp Cromer wondered if he could return to baseball after undergoing reconstructive right elbow surgery last season.

The journeyman infielder knew the rehabilitation process would be arduous. But Cromer pushed himself, and the Dodgers are pleased he did.

Cromer homered in his first at-bat of the season Saturday in a 10-8, come-from-behind victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Hitting for pitcher Darren Hall in the fifth, Cromer hit a solo homer to left-center on the first pitch against Cardinal starter Kent Bottenfield. That cut the Cardinals’ lead to 7-3, and helped to ignite the Dodgers.

Cromer said the blast marked the completion of his long trip back to the major leagues.

“It was exciting to get up there and finally feel like I’m contributing to something again,” Cromer said. “It just feels good to finally be back.”

The Dodgers activated Cromer on Friday to take the spot of Bobby Bonilla on the 25-man roster.

Bonilla went on the 15-day disabled list because of tendinitis in his left wrist. Cromer arrived in St. Louis on Saturday morning after traveling from triple-A Albuquerque, where he was completing a rehabilitation assignment.

Cromer was drafted by the Cardinals in 1989 and spent eight years in their organization, so his smashing season debut was especially meaningful.

“To do that here, where I came up and started, that meant a lot,” he said. “To be honest about it, I really didn’t think much when I was up there [at the plate] because I was so tired [from traveling].

“I was glad that I was able to help us get going. I guess they saw a skinny guy like me hit one [a homer], and they figured anyone could do it.”

Cromer, who is listed at 6 feet 2 and 165 pounds, had his best season in 1997 after signing with the Dodgers as a free agent. He batted .291 (25 for 86) with four homers and 20 runs batted in, and led the Dodgers with a .583 average (14 for 24) with men in scoring position.

On Sept. 9, team physician Frank Jobe performed season-ending surgery on his elbow. Cromer has been working with Pat Screnar, team physical therapist, since the off-season, and he batted .323 (10 for 31) with two homers and five RBIs during a 12-game rehabilitation assignment with the Dukes.

“I actually thought I would never get here,” said Cromer, who has been slowed recently by a right quadriceps strain. “But I listened to Pat and [team trainers] Charlie [Strasser] and Stan [Johnston], and I just did what they told me. They’re the ones who should get all of the credit.”

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Raul Mondesi is thriving in the third spot in batting order.

On Saturday, the center fielder singled, doubled, hit a two-run homer--his team-leading 22nd--and scored three runs. He is batting .380 (27 for 71) with six homers, 18 RBIs, 19 runs and 13 extra-base hits in 17 games in that spot.

“I have confidence hitting there now, because I know they’re not going to move me if I go 0 for 4,” Mondesi said. “Before, they would move me after three or four games.”

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ CHAN HO PARK (8-5, 4.32 ERA) vs. CARDINALS’ TODD STOTTLEMYRE (9-8, 3.29 ERA)

Busch Stadium, 5 PDT

TV--ESPN. Radio--AM 1150, KWKW (1330).

Update--Park has given up only one earned run in his last 25 innings. The Dodgers are averaging 7.25 runs when Park pitches, the most run support among National League starters.