THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 2, 1994 TAG: 9407020774
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
The past vanishes more quickly in baseball than in any other sport, which is why yesterday's result usually means nothing today. And so we have the Richmond Braves' 3-1 victory over the Norfolk Tides on Friday at Harbor Park as another quirky point of fact.
Twenty-four hours after the Tides lambasted Richmond, 16-6, behind 19 hits, they fell on four singles. They avoided a shutout in the ninth only because centerfielder Mike Kelly's two-base error allowed Butch Huskey, who had two of the Tides' four hits, to score.
``(Yesterday) has no bearing,'' Tides outfielder Doug Dascenzo said. ``There's no set way and there's no way to figure out this game. That's what's so unique about it.''
There was nothing mystical for lefthander Kevin Morton (3-7), the unfortunate loser who checked the Braves on three hits through seven innings. He was hurt by spotty defense in the fourth, when the Braves scored all their runs on two hits, and went home winless for the eighth start since May 18.
``The bottom line is we lost,'' said Morton. ``You never feel good about that. The last three outings I could've won games and I didn't. It's all timing. Timing and a little luck. And I haven't had any lately.''
Morton and the Tides (39-43) were unlucky enough to catch Richmond's Kevin Lomon (5-5) when he pitched his best game this season. The 22-year-old righthander worked into the seventh and gave up just two hits. He walked four, however, but the
Tides, who left 11 men on base, stranded runners on second or third in three innings.
Richmond got to Morton after he walked Brian Kowitz with one out in the fourth. Kelly lashed a line drive directly at centerfielder Dascenzo - usually an outfielder's toughest play - that appeared catchable had Dascenzo not turned the wrong way. The ball sailed over his head for a run-scoring triple.
``I just got tied up in knots and couldn't get untied,'' said Dascenzo, who ended the inning by throwing out a runner at the plate. ``It's a ball that can be caught and can be screwed up.''
After another walk, Luis Lopez grounded to third baseman Huskey, who bobbled the potential double-play ball and threw wide to first for an error as Kelly scored. Jose Olmeda's single made it 3-0.
The Tides' ninth-inning rally came against relief ace Terry Clark. Huskey singled and Kmak reached on Kelly's error. Tito Navarro and Quilvio Veras were retired, however, before Dascenzo drew his fourth walk of the game. But shortstop Aaron Ledesma popped out and Clark registered his 19th save.
``Morton deserved a lot better,'' manager Bobby Valentine said. ``He should've won that game. But we didn't play good enough that one inning to win it.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo by] D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
Richmond's Luis Lopez tries to score from third base on a sacrifice
fly in the fourth inning, but Doug Dascenzo's bullet to Tides
catcher Joe Kmak gunned him down.
by CNB