NOTEBOOK : Browning Adds a Rooter for Big Start

CINCINNATI —  Cincinnati Reds pitcher Tom Browning, scheduled to start Game 3 of the World Series on Friday in Oakland, is the father of his third child, born half an hour after the Reds’ Series victory Wednesday night.

Browning left Riverfront Stadium with his wife, Debbie, during the game. She gave birth at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South in Edgewood, Ky., at 12:27 a.m. EDT to Tucker Thomas, a 6-pound, 10-ounce boy. Browning, 30, also has a daughter, Tiffany, 6, and son, Tanner, 3.

Browning left the ballpark still wearing his Reds uniform. Clubhouse attendant Rick Stowe informed Browning that his wife was ready to leave the stadium for the hospital.

Manager Lou Piniella said he and pitching Coach Stan Williams were surprised by Browning’s sudden departure.

“I didn’t even know he was gone,” Piniella said. “When I saw we were starting to eat up pitchers in the middle innings, I said, ‘This game is close. Make sure Browning doesn’t go anywhere.’ And Stan said, ‘He won’t go anywhere.’ About the eighth inning I said, ‘Where is he? I don’t see him.’ ”

Stowe finally tracked Browning through the family’s baby-sitter. By then, the game was nearly over.

“I told Stan, ‘Just know where the pitchers are from now on, please,’ ” Piniella said.

Jose Canseco started out Game 2 in fine fashion, but it’s how he finished that has Oakland Manager Tony La Russa concerned.

Canseco hit an RBI grounder and a solo home run in his first two at-bats, but then struck out twice and grounded into a double play.

In the eighth inning, he let Billy Hatcher’s drive to right field skip off his glove for a triple, setting up the tying run, and then made an off-line throw to the plate after catching a fly ball.

“It’s a play that if you want to win the game, you have to make,” La Russa said of Hatcher’s hit. “I don’t think he got a very good jump.”

Canseco missed 31 games because of back problems this season. Recently, he jammed the middle finger of his index finger in a refrigerator. Both injuries have been bothering him.

La Russa thought a lineup switch might help the offense, so he put National League batting champion Willie McGee on the bench and started Dave Henderson in center field.

Henderson, one of the most productive postseason players in history, again came through. He singled twice in four at-bats and walked.

McGee is more accustomed to playing on artificial turf than Henderson because of all his years in St. Louis. La Russa has not said who will start when the Series moves to Oakland’s grass field.