Votto Returns Ends Apprehension

Joey Votto was described by Dusty Baker as the Reds answer to Baker's old Dodger teammate, Steve Garvey. Garvey played every Dodger game from 1976 through 1980.

Not only does the soft spoken Votto have movie star looks like Garvey. Votto played every inning of every Reds game of the Reds first 27 contests. "Joey Votto's a man," Baker said at the time.

Then the flu bug bit him and he missed four games with a nasty case.

He came back as part of a double switch but thes Reds subequent road trip, he became dizzy in a start at Arizona and had to leave the game. He played one game in San Diego on the next leg of the road trip but last Saturday, was removed after getting dizzy on the field.

Extensive test revealed that the pressure from the airline trips combined with the flu caused an severe inner ear infectioned that caused the dizziness.

After the relief that nothing exotic was causing the problem, Votto needed a couple of days to get back into playing condition by taking ground balls and batting practice.

His name was on the lineup sheet Saturday against the Indians.

"I felt great yesterday," Votto said before his return. "The tough part will be playing the entire game. The last time I played I have to leave. I'm worried about it happening again but once I've had a few games in a row and play nine innings, that will go away."

The apprehension at least over the effect the illness would have on performance was erased on a 3-2 pitch from Indian's starter David Huff. Votto drilled it into the stands in left center. In his next at bat he hit a long home run to right, giving him four RBI in the first two at bats in his comeback. It is his third multi-home run game of his career.

In the field he made a nice backhanded stop on a hard ground ball by Victor Martinez.