THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 2, 1994 TAG: 9408020466
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
The Norfolk Tides' blue batting helmets spent significant time as projectiles, chucked in disgust, in a 2-0 loss Monday to the Charlotte Knights at Harbor Park.
In heated pursuit of second place behind the Knights in the West Division, the Tides (55-55) ripped a goodly share of hard-hit balls off Dave Mlicki. Most were in vain.
They had seven hits but lined into two double plays and nearly another. They grounded into a third double play and then had a potential game-tying drive in the eighth inning turned into a marvelous catch by centerfielder Omar Ramirez at the warning track.
The handful of helmets that rattled around the dugout and off the turf illustrated how aggravating such a loss - the Tides' 11th in 15 games against Charlotte - can be.
The frustration bled over to starter Dave Telgheder, whose recent run of strong efforts and rotten luck continued. Telgheder (7-8) has given up 10 runs in his last five starts but is 1-3, as the Tides have scored five runs in the three losses.
``Both teams hit the ball a lot better than the score,'' Tides manager
Bobby Valentine said. ``They played good defense tonight; we did, too. Dang it, it was a good game, a well-played game. The wrong guys won.''
Telgheder, who went eight innings, gave up a run on two singles and a sacrifice fly in the first. The second run came in the fourth on two more singles and a slowly hit ground ball by Tim Jones that the Tides were unable to turn into an inning-ending double play.
Though Telgheder and Mike Cook yielded just three more hits, the Tides managed only one single after the fourth against Mlicki (5-7) and Paul Shuey. That came in the eighth, when the Tides left the bases loaded.
Greg Graham walked to start the rally, and Pat Howell bunted safely. Rick Parker then fouled off a bunt attempt before lacing Mlicki's next pitch high and deep to left-center.
``I glanced at the leftfielder and I knew I got it over his head, but the centerfielder came out of nowhere,'' Parker said. ``I thought the leftfielder was the only one I was going to have to worry about.''
Ramirez made a backhanded catch on which Graham moved to third. After Doug Dascenzo flied out to short leftfield, Mlicki hit Aaron Ledesma to load the bases. Shuey entered and Butch Huskey popped the first pitch to center to end the threat.
``I kind of figured he might try to come at me first-pitch fastball,'' said Huskey, who had two hits. ``When he did, I just missed my pitch. I had a good swing at it, I just missed it.''
Huskey whipped his bat to the ground as he trotted to first. His helmet made it a little farther, before it, too, was sent flying into the dirt behind first base.
It was that kind of night. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
RALPH FITZGERALD
The Knights' Omar Ramirez slides hard into second base to help break
up a double play. The Tides' Aaron Ledesma makes the throw.
by CNB