THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 16, 1994 TAG: 9408160487
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
Were it not for the major league baseball strike, outfielder Jeromy Burnitz would be playing for the New York Mets.
But Monday night he was playing for the Norfolk Tides, who rallied to beat the hottest team in the International League, thanks in large part to Burnitz's heroics.
Burnitz drilled a towering two-run home run over the rightfield fence in the bottom of the ninth to lift Norfolk past Columbus, 7-5. The Clippers had won eight of their last 10 games.
Burnitz was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBIs. He also had a sacrifice bunt and a stolen base.
``What a great game he played,'' Tides manager Bobby Valentine said. ``He's a big league player. He wouldn't be here except for the strike.''
Burnitz was one of three Mets optioned to the Tides last week just prior to the strike, and he acknowledges he wasn't completely thrilled when he got the word.
``I wasn't disappointed, but I had some thoughts about going on strike, just relaxing up there and going through it,'' he said. ``Being on strike is part of being in the major leagues. Now I'm happy to be here. I get a chance to play for three more weeks. I'd like to finish the season strong.''
As would the Tides (61-63), whose victory came in the first of eight key games -- three with Columbus and five with Richmond. Norfolk is chasing Columbus and Richmond for the West Division's second playoff berth.
Norfolk went Monday with its strongest Harbor Park starter, Eric Hillman, who is 10-0 lifetime at home in Norfolk. Hillman pitched well again but gave up four runs in six innings and did not figure in the decision.
The Tides trailed, 4-1, before mounting a four-run rally in the bottom of the sixth, made possible by two Columbus errors.
Burnitz singled, and Omar Garcia and Javier Gonzalez reached on errors. Quilvio Veras, the All-Star second baseman activated from the injured-reserve list Monday, stroked a pinch-hit double down the line just beyond the reach of third baseman Russ Davis, driving in two runs. Fernando Vina lofted a sacrifice fly to deep center that scored Gonzalez, and Rick Parker gave the Tides a short-lived 5-4 lead with a double that scored Veras.
Columbus manager Stump Merrill then called on Andy Groghan, who got Jim Vatcher and Butch Huskey to fly out and ground out, respectively, to end the rally.
Columbus's Kiki Hernandez tied the score in the top of the seventh with a home run off reliever Jonathan Hurst. Hurst then settled down, striking out three batters in the eighth inning. Pete Walker (2-2) shut down the Clippers in the top of the ninth and picked up the victory.
Norfolk might have won going away had it not been for Columbus rightfielder Jalal Leach, who robbed both Vina and Joe Kmak with running catches against the wall. Both came with two outs and both would have scored runs.
However, Bernitz's towering home run landed well beyond Leach's grasp.
``He (Columbus pitcher Rich Hines) was down, 2-0, and I knew he had to come in there with the next pitch,'' Burnitz said. ``I was trying to hit a home run.
``He threw it down the center and I hit it with the meat of the bat. It was a great feeling.''
Even if it didn't come in New York. by CNB