THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, April 17, 1995 TAG: 9504170208
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 44 lines
For a club whose relievers recorded only eight Triple-A saves a year ago, the Tides are fairing well when games must be closed out.
Though there is no designated closer, the Tides' bullpen recorded its sixth save Sunday when Jimmy Williams pitched into and out of ninth-inning trouble in a 6-5 victory over the Rochester Red Wings. Bryan Rogers, who was sent back to Double-A after a poor stay with the Tides last year, and Williams have a pair of saves apiece, while Don Florence and Mark Fuller each have one.
Rogers, though, gave up an unearned run in a set-up role Sunday and was set to be the loser until the Tides scored two runs in the eighth inning to take the lead. Suddenly, he became the winner when Williams stranded runners on second and third to wrap it up.
The 6-foot-7 lefthander from Butler, Ala., now has more saves than he's earned since 1990, when he played Triple-A ball in Portland, Ore. A former closer, Williams racked up a career-high 14 saves in Double-A in 1989, but he has spent the last few seasons primarily as a starter.
``I believe that'll really give him something to build off of,'' Tides manager Toby Harrah said of Williams. ``Second and third ... that's a big out for him right there.''
KEEP SWINGING: Reserve outfielder Jay Davis is batting only .105, but, though it sounds strange, it's a hard .105.
A lefthanded hitter who has started the last three games because of centerfielder Jarvis Brown's sore shoulder, Davis has struck out only twice and has lined into about a half-dozen outs in his 19 at-bats. He has just two hits.
``He's swinging just fine, he's just had no luck at all,'' Harrah said. ``He could be easily hitting .280 right now instead of whatever he's hitting. I think he can hit. He's hit in the past, and he'll hit here.''
Davis has a .273 career minor league average, including a personal-best
``I've told him he's gonna be OK,'' Harrah said. by CNB