THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, May 15, 1995 TAG: 9505150136
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE NEWMAN, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: OTTAWA LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines
Even an 1 1/2-hour rain delay Sunday couldn't stem Norfolk Tides as they won their fifth consecutive game, defeating the Ottawa Lynx, 5-1, in the International League.
With one out in the fourth, Lynx pitcher Chris Martin's high throw put Ryan Thompson on base. A catcher's interference call against Clemente Alvarez allowed Derek Lee to get on base. One out later, Omar Garcia's double high off the centerfield wall scored Thompson and Lee.
John Orton followed with a single just inside the third base line to score Garcia and put the Tides up, 3-0.
With Norfolk pitcher Mike Birkbeck about to step up to the plate, the umpires called in the grounds crew as a steady drizzle turned into a downpour. Play resumed after 1 hour and 32 minutes.
Jimmy Williams, who pitched for Ottawa last year, took over for Birkbeck, allowing five hits over six innings in earning his second victory of the season.
Williams felt he never got a fair shake with the Lynx last season.
``When I was 7-0 as a starter there was no way I should have moved to the bullpen,'' said Williams, who ended up 9-2, with a 4.53 ERA.
``I felt it was a slap in the face, and mentally it got to me. That's why my ERA and bases on balls went up. I should have been considered for a call-up when everyone around me was.''
But Williams (2-0) said he didn't carry any animosity into this game. If anything, he was a little excited and found himself overthrowing before finding the groove with his curve, fastball and slider.
The Tides added a run in the fifth when Edwin Alicea scored on a fielder's choice and another in the eighth on Lee's sixth home run of the season.
In the fourth inning, Norfolk second baseman Edwin Alicea was caught between third and home when Chris Jones hit a grounder to shortstop.
However, Lynx shortstop Chris Martin mishandled the ball and could only recover in time for the putout at first base.
Norfolk went up 4-0 on that play, then 5-0 as Lee - playing with sore hamstrings - sliced a home run over the leftfield wall to lead off the seventh.
The Tides lost their shutout in the ninth when reliever Bryan Rogers gave up a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to Ted Wood.
NOTES: In the fourth and final game of the series, tonight's starters will be Denis Boucher (2-2, 4.75) for the Lynx and Bill Pulsipher for the Tides. Pulsipher is 3-0 with a 0.35 ERA at home, but only 1-2, 5.47 on the road. ILLUSTRATION: BOX SCORE
STANDINGS
[For a copy of the charts, see microfilm for this date.]
by CNB