After abysmal start, Tomko makes case to stay with Cards

ST. LOUIS -- The unsightly 5.27 ERA suggests that Brett Tomko has been a $3 million bust for the St. Louis Cardinals.

He also leads the National League in two undesirable categories: hits allowed (237) and runs allowed (119).

But the right-hander's strong finish might be enough to convince the team to re-sign him for next season. Tomko has won seven of his last eight decisions to match his career best of 13 victories.

During that stretch, his ERA is 4.18.

"We haven't really talked anything about it, but if they want to know where I'm sitting from it would be great to come back here," Tomko said after dominating the Milwaukee Brewers for eight innings in an 11-2 victory Monday night.

"If they want me to come back, yeah, it would be awesome."

Tomko (13-8) hit rock bottom in mid-June, when he allowed 18 runs in 7 1-3 innings over two appearances. He kept struggling in July with a 6.14 ERA.

"What they saw the first half of the season was pitiful," Tomko said. "I felt I was worthless out there."

He's kept this from being a lost season by breaking it in two. Long ago, he knew the final ERA wouldn't be good no matter what he did the rest of the way.

"The stats are going to be what they are and they might not look pretty to some people, but for me it's been a long road and a lot of heartache and a lot of nice times.

"To me it's been a good year because I've battled back from a lot of adversity."

Tomko has progressed to the point that he might figure in the team's plans for next season. Manager Tony La Russa said Tomko was his own worst enemy in the first half.

"I think so many times he was fighting himself, trying so hard, and usually trying to force things," La Russa said. "Now he's got some confidence, he's relaxing and he's got plenty of talent."

Tomko said he got caught up trying to dazzle opponents earlier in the season. He throws at least a half-dozen pitches.

Now he's just going after the hitters.

"I just needed to be more of a pitcher instead of trying to trick people," Tomko said. "I felt for a while I was trying to trick people with movement instead of pitching and being a power guy.

"When I changed my mentality, I started throwing harder and my arm started feeling better."

Tomko has helped himself with a good inside-out stroke to right field. He was 2-for-4 with three RBIs in the win over the Brewers and leads a good-hitting pitching staff with a .305 average and nine RBIs.

"He's really got a nice stroke," La Russa said. "They don't just throw fastballs down the middle, they know he's a tough out."

Tomko's two-run single was the big hit in a three-run second and he added a run-scoring single in a four-run third. He had another two-hit game in his last start against the Rockies.

"It's fun to go out there and hit, and it spurred us on a little bit and got us going," Tomko said. "I was never a good hitter in high school, but it's fun to try to put the ball in play."

Cardinals pitchers are batting .213 overall. Woody Williams is right behind Tomko with a .254 average, a home run and seven RBIs, and Matt Morris also has a homer.

"Me, Woody and Matt, we all kind of push each other," Tomko said.