 He also hit two home runs as a batter.The next year, he again won 11 games to 10 losses (3 fewer than the previous year) but saw his strikeout numbers drop and his ERA rose by almost a full run (4.73).Before the start of the 1998 season when he was tabbed as the opening day pitcher for the Reds, the Indians acquired him for prospect Sean Casey, looking for someone to fill the void left by Orel Hershiser.