THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 19, 1995 TAG: 9505190629
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
Ryan Thompson became the third Tide in two seasons to collect three doubles in a game Thursday, offering the best evidence yet that he is rounding into good enough form to soon rejoin the Mets.
Thompson, who strained ligaments in his right elbow in spring training, started a 20-day rehabilitation assignment last Saturday but had only two hits in 16 at-bats before Thursday's 3-0 victory over Syracuse.
But the 27-year-old outfielder poked doubles the opposite way to rightfield in the second and fourth innings off Paul Spoljaric, and scored both times, once after stealing third. Then in the sixth, Thompson led off with a scorching double to left but was stranded at third.
He fanned his last time up, but the 3-for-4 day raised his average to .250, not bad considering that Thompson said he is practically experimenting each time up.
``I've been working on hitting the ball to rightfield, to stay on the ball,'' Thompson said. ``I've been working on that every day, in the batting cage and in batting practice.''
Thompson said his elbow is giving him no trouble and that he won't need a full 20 days to be ready to go back. When he does return, it could be a critical season for Thompson with the Mets. He batted just .225 last season and struck out more than any Mets regular, once every 3.6 at-bats. But Thompson was also second on the team with 18 home runs and third with 59 RBIs.
AUDITION TIME: Mike Birkbeck was pushed up in the rotation at the request of Mets executive vice president Joe McIlvaine, in town to scout the Tides, and will pitch tonight against Toledo. Paul Byrd will switch to Saturday.
McIlvaine wants a look at the pitcher who, with a strong effort, probably will replace the struggling Jason Jacome in the Mets' rotation.
STREAKING, SORT OF: First baseman Omar Garcia has pieced together a team-high 10-game hitting streak despite having only one multi-hit game in that time. Garcia had three hits May 9 in Syracuse but has a hit per game since. Aaron Ledesma, Quilvio Veras and Doug Dascenzo had 11-game streaks last year.
THAT'S A MOUTHFUL: A quick check of the Tides' all-time roster reveals that pitcher Jason Isringhausen has the second longest last name of any player in franchise history. The only name with more than 12 letters is the immortal Mike Van de Casteele, who played for the team in 1978 and 1979. by CNB