THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, April 8, 1995 TAG: 9504080385
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FORT MILL, S.C. LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines
Two games in, the casual brilliance with which Norfolk Tides' shortstop Rey Ordonez plays defense is obvious, and clearly big league. Equally apparent Friday night was that those who want to blithely ordain 21-year-old lefthander Bill Pulsipher an immediate spot in the New York Mets' rotation should temper their enthusiasm just a bit.
Pulsipher, regarded as the Mets' top minor league prospect, will get there in good time. But in his Triple-A debut against the Charlotte Knights, a 7-3 Tides victory fueled in part by Ordonez's glove and bat, Pulsipher took an uneven ride through six innings that teemed with Charlotte baserunners.
Pulsipher gave up two runs in the first inning, and pitched with at least two men on base in three other innings. He was slippery enough, however, to earn the decision, with a save to Don Florence, in an outing to build on.
Meanwhile, the Tides took their second victory in as many games over the Knights and have another touted rookie lefthander, Chris Roberts, on the mound tonight.
``Coulda been better, coulda been worse,'' said Pulsipher, a Fairfax resident who yielded six hits, walked six and struck out three. ``I struggled, but I'm happy to get the first one over with and get a W.
``I can't be upset with my performance. I went six strong, only gave up two runs and didn't have my best stuff. I'm looking forward to the next one.''
Admittedly battling nerves, Pulsipher walked three in the first. Three other times, he got two outs before a man reached base. Nevertheless, Charlotte didn't score again until the eighth against Bob Stoddard.
``I kind of felt the first part of the game had a chance to go like that,'' pitching coach Bob Apodaca said. ``It's a tribute to him in the sense that he came back stronger.''
Pulsipher was supported by a 13-hit attack and flawless defense paced by Ordonez, who handled 10 chances so adroitly that already it's a surprise when a ball avoids his reach.
``When you see a ball hit to shortstop, you get the feeling it's going to be an out instead of not being sure,'' Tides manager Toby Harrah said. ``It's almost like money in the bank.''
Harrah also got to enjoy Ordonez get two hits and score twice. Jarvis Brown, Ed Alicea, Derek Lee and Jeff Barry also had two hits apiece, while Alicea hit a bases-empty home run and drove in three.
Still, the night's attraction involved a lean lefthander with ample heart and potential.
``How about the way Willie came back?'' Harrah gushed. ``He showed me something. Guys are going to get on base, you're never going to go just 1-2-3, 1-2-3. The bottom line was they didn't cross home plate. He's as good a competitor as anybody.'' by CNB