THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, May 2, 1995 TAG: 9505020408
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
The Norfolk Tides' stack of pitching gems grew a little taller, somewhat surprisingly, Monday night at chilly Harbor Park, where lefthander Chris Roberts threw two games in one.
Roberts' first four innings against the Pawtucket Red Sox probably had some of the bundled-up fans in a season-low crowd of 4,328 wondering if he'd see the fifth. But the Tides treated Pawtucket's Brent Hansen even more rudely in the early going, which gave Roberts time to work out his kinks.
And he did, totally reversing his course. The former Olympian from Florida State went eight innings in the Tides' sixth consecutive victory, a 7-3 decision. Roberts walked none, struck out seven and gave up one hit past the fourth to stop Pawtucket's winning streak at five.
For their part, the Tides (15-8) had no hits past the third inning against Hansen, but stuck former Tide Gregg Langbehn for two runs in the ninth to pull away.
The winning streak is the Tides' longest since they won nine in a row twice in 1993.
``The pitching has been excellent and the defense isn't giving them four outs,'' Tides manager Toby Harrah said. ``The outfield's hustling and getting the ball in quick, keeping the double play in order. And you can't say enough about the pitching.''
Roberts was touched for a run in the first and second, but righted himself after Glenn Murray homered in the fourth to pull the Pawsox to within 4-3.
``I've always had trouble in the first couple innings since I've been in pro ball, especially the first inning,'' said Roberts, who improved to 3-1. ``As the game goes on and I start hitting my spots and get in a groove, I can set down a few in a row.''
In fact, Roberts finished by retiring the last 10 hitters he faced after Juan Bell's fifth-inning single. That streak helped protect the lead forged by five extra-base hits in the first three innings, when Hansen appeared to be throwing the Tides batting practice.
``The first three innings or so, I wasn't changing speeds and I was getting the ball up,'' Hansen said. ``I wasn't able to put anybody away early.''
First baseman Omar Garcia particularly hurt Hansen, with triples in the first and third innings. He scored both times, and then again in the ninth after walking. Butch Huskey also put a charge into a Hansen delivery in the second for a two-run home run, his second.
``The good thing was I didn't let (the first inning) get out of hand,'' said Roberts, who yielded a run on a double-play ball after the first two Pawsox had singled. ``I just got the ball up a little bit and they knocked it around.''
It was as much as anybody has hit the Tides in their last four games, but it wasn't enough by a far cry. With physically imposing bruisers like Murray, Eric Wedge, Greg Blosser and Pat Lennon, the East-leading Pawsox (12-11) can do worse damage. Tonight, Paul Byrd gets to test his stuff against their big bats.
``I haven't gotten a hit yet,'' said Harrah, deflecting praise for the winning streak. ``They're doing a good job.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by Paul Aiken
Rey Ordonez of the Norfolk Tides throws his helmet and gloves in
disgust after getting caught stealing second base against Pawtucket
for the final out in the fourth inning. by CNB