THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, June 12, 1995 TAG: 9506120130
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
It took most of three games for the Norfolk Tides to finally figure out Dennis Springer and his diabolic knuckleball. But by the time they put serious wood to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre righthander in the eighth inning Sunday, knocking him around the way other International League teams have, they were staring up at an eight-run deficit.
The five-run inning made it a game, but in the end Springer recorded his third victory over the Tides in as many starts, 8-5, at Harbor Park.
``I didn't think we had too much of a chance from the get-go against that guy,'' Tides manager Toby Harrah, visibly frustrated over his team's continuing struggles against Springer, said sarcastically. ``To me he looked like the only guy who wasn't sweating out there today.''
On an afternoon when Tides lefthander Bill Pulsipher crashed and burned for the first time at home, Springer leveled his ERA vs. the Tides at 2.16 and his batting average against to .151.
Contrast that with Springer's numbers against the rest of the league: a 2-6 record, 6.49 ERA, and .276 batting average.
``He looks like the best pitcher in the league,'' Harrah sniffed. ``If you ask me he should be 12-0. I think he got bored there in the eighth. He felt a little sorry for us. I think he wanted to see if we could hit the ball down the (middle of the plate).''
Springer, who three-hit the Tides five days ago in Scranton, had a two-hitter until the Tides (38-26) strung together five consecutive hits to start the eighth. They finished with eight hits and had the tying run on-deck when reliever Chuck Ricci closed out the ninth.
``Everybody says, `Wouldn't you like to pitch against them every time?' '' said Springer (5-6), who mixed 45 knuckleballs with 44 fastballs and 11 sliders. ``No. That's a tough team to pitch against. We've played some good games against them. I really didn't think I had real good stuff today. In the eighth they caught up with me.''
Springer had the luxury of a 6-0 lead after two innings, as the Red Barons roughed up Pulsipher (6-4) in his castle, so to speak. The 21-year-old lefthander, who Harrah claimed was victimized by plate umpire Brian Gibbons' condensed strike zone, lasted just three innings, by far his shortest outing of the season, and yielded 10 hits, all singles.
It was a stark turn of events for a guy who, coming in, was 4-0 with a 1.13 ERA at Harbor Park.
``There were no corners on the plate for the first two innings,'' Harrah said. ``In the first inning (Gibbons) missed six or seven pitches, but if you ask that guy he didn't miss a pitch.''
Said Pulsipher: ``I don't know. I didn't think I threw the ball bad. I saw a lot of ground balls and blooped balls over the infield. I gave up 10 hits, but none were extra-base hits.''
The Red Barons (27-34), the hottest team in the league with nine victories in their last 11 games, more than made them work.
``They play us well,'' said Tides second baseman Ed Alicea, who said Springer's ability to spot his fastball with his good knuckler was the secret. ``Not many guys can hit (the knuckleball). When you can throw it well, you can be successful.''
NOTABLE: Seldom-used catcher Ben Boka singled as a pinch-hitter for his first Triple-A hit. ... Tides pinch-hitters were 3 for 4 Sunday and are hitting .286 in that role. ... Tides president Ken Young will take questions from callers from 6:30 to 7 tonight on WTAR radio with Jack Ankerson. ... About 1,000 tickets remain for youth baseball day June 25. Adult representatives of youth baseball or softball teams may pick up 20 tickets for $1 apiece today at Harbor Park beginning at 10 a.m. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by BILL TIERNAN
Tides second baseman Ed Alicea throws to first base to complete a
double play, a rare bright spot for Norfolk.
by CNB