Hideo Nomo started 2004 with two shutout innings.

His first three-ball count came in his third inning.

He entered Inning No. 5 trailing innocuously, 1-0, having allowed four hits.

He retired the first batter, and had still held the opposition to one run through 4 2/3 innings.

And then: five-pitch walk, grand slam, four-pitch walk, two-run home run.

It hasn't gotten much better for Nomo this season. His strikeouts have vanished like D.B. Cooper; home runs have sprouted like weeds. There have been games of endurance, but none of dominance.

If Tuesday night's five-homer performance by Philadelphia was any evidence, Nomo is hours away from facing a formidable offense in a formidable ballpark. The Joy of Cooking offers this recipe for disaster in both Japanese and American cuisines.

His vulnerability is a secret to no one.

Baseball being baseball, you can cringe at the thought of Nomo taking the mound and still retain the hope that somehow, the Strat-o-Matic dice will roll and land on outs enough times.

You'll root for him to survive, a batter at a time.

And you'll hope that they know when to throw in the towel, knowing that other battles lay ahead, next week, next month, next year.

You hope that something unpleasant doesn't become something nasty.