THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 11, 1994 TAG: 9406110484
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940611 LENGTH: NORFOLK
Hillman, the 6-foot-10 lefthander, hadn't thrown a ball for four days but scattered five hits and struck out six over five shutout innings. He then yielded to Eric Gunderson for three innings and Mike Cook for one, and they were nearly perfect. They allowed only two baserunners on a walk and an error to preserve the lead forged on Hare's two-run double in the third.
{REST} ``I thought actually he looked a little rusty, but he made the pitches when he needed to, which to me is a sign of a good pitcher,'' Tides catcher Joe Kmak said. ``I don't think he had the command he wanted, but at times he threw really good pitches.''
Hillman was demoted after running up a 7.79 earned-run average and an 0-3 record. He was a dominant 6-2, 2.21 with the Tides last season before going to the Mets, and he picked right up on his recent pattern of Triple-A success.
He wandered into trouble only in the second inning, when a two-out walk after two singles loaded the bases for No. 9 hitter Jim Givens, who flew out to center to end the inning.
Only two more Mud Hens (30-28) got hits off Hillman, and thanks to double plays no one advanced past first. Hillman finished up by striking out the side in the fifth and then handed off to the bullpen.
The trio produced the Tides' third shutout in 12 games and their fifth overall. Considering the Tides' 4:30 wake-up call in Columbus on Friday morning, the satisfaction level was high.
``Definitely,'' Gunderson said. ``It is anytime you come in and hold the other team to no runs, especially after the starter's done his job. For (Hillman) to throw five strong innings like that, it's outstanding.''
Hare did his part by lashing his double off the wall in right-center off Frank Gonzales in his second at-bat for the Tides since May 26. Hare was 5-for-18 (.278) with the Mets but returned to a .340 Triple-A batting average.
``(Gonzales) threw a good game,'' said Hare, an outfielder whom the Tides (27-34) acquired from the Mud Hens last month. ``I think he just got that one out over the plate a little bit more than he wanted to.''
Hare played early with the Mets, but he sat unused for six days after Kevin McReynolds came off the disabled list. Still, his stroke was there when the Tides needed it.
``If you concentrate in batting practice and work hard and stay with your fundamentals, you can somewhat keep a groove, even when you're not playing,'' Hare said.
by CNB