THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 7, 1995 TAG: 9504070674
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FORT MILL, S.C. LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
Before this International League season runs its course, a bunch of touted Triple-A rookies will determine, in large part, the fate of the Norfolk Tides.
But Thursday, when the Tides opened with a 4-2 victory over the Charlotte Knights, it was a time for some veterans to shine.
Mike Birkbeck, a 34-year-old righthander who has been among the league's best pitchers the last two seasons for the Richmond Braves, outdueled Marc Valdes, 23, the Florida Marlins' top draft choice in 1993.
Rightfielder Chris Jones, 28, powdered a Valdes pitch for a home run in the second inning, and leftfielder Derek Lee, 28, drilled a two-run shot in the fourth. Centerfielder Jarvis Brown, 28, made a diving catch of a sinking line drive. All three have big league experience and could earn early looks from the New York Mets, perhaps even before their season starts later this month.
``They all in their own way have something to offer,'' said Tides manager Toby Harrah.
Still, one of the Tides' youngsters managed to elbow his way into the opening-night kudos. Shortstop Rey Ordonez, a 23-year-old Cuban, not only doubled in a run, but also played up to his sparkling defensive reviews by rendering three difficult plays harmless.
In the third, on consecutive ground-ball outs, Ordonez ranged beyond second base. He followed that by charging in behind the mound to glove a high chopper.
Then, in the sixth, Ordonez performed his trademark play - sliding to backhand a grounder and hopping up to fire hard and true to first to get the swift Jeff Carter.
``He's very talented, no question about it,'' said Birkbeck, who gave up seven hits, walked one and struck out five in seven innings. ``It's nice to have a shortstop like that who can make the routine plays and make the more difficult plays look routine. He makes it look extremely easy, which sometimes you take for granted.''
Birkbeck can make it look effortless himself. The only run Birkbeck, the winner of 26 games the past two seasons, allowed came in the first inning, after second baseman Ed Alicea threw away a double-play ball.
He allowed only one other man to reach third, and enjoyed his finest moment on his final pitch. In a gripping showdown of graybeards, Birkbeck shook off catcher Charlie Greene's sign for a fastball and froze 37-year-old Nick Capra with a full-count curveball for a called strikeout with two on and two out in the seventh to preserve a 4-1 lead.
``He's a surgeon. In and out, changeup, curveball, everything,'' Greene said in admiration.
``If you can't pitch ahead in the count, you've got to know how to pitch behind in the count,'' Birkbeck said. ``It's easy to pitch when it's 0-1, 0-2 all the time. You've got to learn how to pitch when you're behind in the count. Tonight was a perfect example.''
The opener also offered a glimpse of the trouble the Tides could have with their unproven bullpen. Three relievers turned things dicey in the eighth. Rookie Jim McCready walked the only two batters he faced. Jimmy Williams yielded a single and a line-drive out before getting a strikeout, and Bryan Rogers reloaded the bases with a walk before recording a strikeout to end the threat.
Rogers, though, retired the Knights in order in the ninth to earn his first Triple-A save and preserve the nice start to Birkbeck's 13th pro season. by CNB