THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, August 8, 1994 TAG: 9408080171
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
Of the Norfolk Tides' starting pitchers, Dave Telgheder has been chosen by baseball's fickle gods to endure aggravation in the form of sparse offensive support.
As the profession's cycles run, it has happened to Telgheder before. It will probably happen again, probably along the lines of how things turned out Sunday at Harbor Park.
Telgheder held the Syracuse Chiefs to two earned runs in eight innings but he lost again when three Syracuse pitchers scuttled the Tides in a 4-2 victory.
Telgheder (7-9), 1-5 with a no-decision since July 4, knows he can do nothing about the nine runs the Tides have scored in those losses and the no-decision. Within his power, though, is helping his teammates get off to at least an even start. He is failing at that, which is what has perplexed Telgheder most during his recent bad luck.
First-inning runs have become a plague to the 27-year-old righthander. He has given up at least one run in the first inning in seven of his eight starts since June 29. His one-inning statistics in that time seem to cry out for careful consideration of his pregame routine.
In those last eight first-innings, Telgheder has allowed eight runs and 20 hits for a 9.00 earned-run average. About a third of the runs and hits Telgheder has yielded since June 29 have come in the first.
``Maybe it's something in my preparation or whatever,'' said Telgheder, who gave up a run on three hits and a walk after two were out in the first inning Sunday. ``It hurts a team being down a run before we get to bat. It's been a pattern the last five or six games. Maybe I'm throwing too much, or not enough. Or maybe I'm mentally not ready to go at that point. I don't know.''
A pair of singles on 0-2 pitches, including Howard Battle's RBI hit, put the Chiefs (54-61) up from the start. Syracuse scored again in the second on three more hits, then an unearned run in the sixth.
Jesse Cross, Ken Robinson and Randy St. Claire made sure it was too much for the Tides (57-59) to overcome, though they had runners on second or third with less than two outs six times and scored just twice.
The loss prevented the Tides, who knew that Richmond had lost earlier in the day, from closing to within 4 1/2 games of the second-place Braves for the final playoff spot in the West Division.
``I'm pitching well enough to win, I just haven't been getting the runs and I've been giving up one or two too many,'' said Telgheder, who fell to 0-3 against the Chiefs despite a 2.42 ERA in three starts.
``I've thrown three really good games against them, but the score hasn't ended up in my favor. All the games have been low-scoring, but I've kept us in it throughout, so I can't be disappointed about the way I'm throwing, just the outcome.''
While Telgheder endured problems early, the Tides suffered last-inning frustration. With one out, they loaded the bases against St. Claire on two walks and an infield single by Jim Vatcher. But consecutive ground balls by Doug Dascenzo and Aaron Ledesma brought in just one run and left the tying run at first. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by RICHARD L. DUNSTON
Norfolk's Omar Garcia goes in headfirst - and safely - back to
second base as Syracuse shortstop Alex Gonzalez waits for a pickoff
throw in the Chiefs' win.
by CNB