Howe Pitches 2 Scoreless Innings in Return; Ueberroth: No Comment

BALTIMORE —  Steve Howe pitched two scoreless innings for the Texas Rangers Friday night, raising a challenge to his 1985 suspension from major league baseball.

“I felt OK,” Howe said of his one-hit relief stint in the fifth and sixth innings of the Rangers’ 9-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. “It was good to get it over with.

“It’s no different than pitching at Oklahoma City. It’s a ballfield. It’s the same game here, just in a little different area. This is how I pitch. I’m always around the plate. I’ve always used the other eight guys out there.”

The issue, however, is far from dead. Texas activated Howe without the approval of Commissioner Peter Ueberroth. Before the game, a spokesman said the commissioner had no comment.

Until the issue is settled, Ranger Manager Bobby Valentine intends to use Howe as often as needed.

“I need him tomorrow and the next day, too,” Valentine said. “It was a good opportunity to get some work, get his feet on the ground.

“He threw the ball over the plate. That’s what he’s known for, and has good movement in the strike zone. I wasn’t going to leave anybody out there for more than 30 pitches. I wasn’t going to use him up in a 7-0 ballgame.”

The Orioles got a three-hitter from Ken Dixon (5-8) and Mark Williamson, and a pair of two-run homers from Larry Sheets, to end a four-game losing streak before 33,657 at Memorial Stadium.

Other than Howe, there wasn’t much good news for the Rangers, who trailed, 5-0, after an inning and by 7-0 after three innings. Cal Ripken Jr. and Sheets homered in the first.

Before the game, Howe quipped that his trek back to the major leagues has included three countries in the past six months.

“That says it all,” said Howe, who wore jersey No. 57 in the opening game of a three-game series against the Orioles. “Japan and Mexico before this,” added Howe, who was acquired from the Rangers’ Triple-A Oklahoma City farm club.

“As long as the door stayed open a bit, I knew I was going to kick it in,” the 29-year-old left-hander said about his return.

Howe, who had 244 appearances with the Dodgers and Minnesota Twins over five seasons, pitched briefly in June for Tabasco in the Triple-A Mexican League.

“If I thought this moment would not have come, I would have quit,” Howe insisted. “I have been free of any substances since July 15, 1986. I have been tested over 200 times.”

Howe appeared prepared for criticism from the fans.

“The only people who will get on me are the ones who have had 12 beers and don’t even know what stadium they are in,” he said.

“My whole ambition is to pitch in the major leagues again and not let chemical dependency beat me,” Howe said. “I think I’ve done that.”

Valentine said little about Howe’s return.

“It’s getting more attention than the normal callup,” Valentine said. “He is ready to go. He has had two days of rest.”

Ranger pitching coach Tom House said: “Steve is a legitimate talent. I’m not worried about him. He is a competitor and will add to the chemistry of the staff. Left-handers with 90-m.p.h. fastballs are few and far between.”

Howe, the Rookie of the Year in the National League as a Dodger in 1980, was 2-2 with a 3.48 earned-run average for Oklahoma City. He was signed to the Triple-A contract July 12.