THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, June 21, 1995 TAG: 9506210685
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
Ottawa might have thought it was getting a break when it hit town Tuesday for a three-game series with the Norfolk Tides.
Ace lefthander Bill Pulsipher, who would have started tonight's game, had just been called up by the New York Mets. And righthanded sensation Jason Isringhausen won't take the mound until Friday, when the Toledo Mud Hens arrive.
So the Lynx got to take its cuts against Jimmy Williams, a journeyman lefthander who has been with seven organizations in 11 years. Williams was 0-2 in his previous two starts this year and came in with the highest earned run average (4.10) among active Tides pitchers.
Williams, however, looked like a cross between Isringhausen and Pulsipher on Tuesday, striking out nine and giving up three hits and one earned run in seven innings of masterful work in an 11-3 victory.
Williams improved to 4-2 and lowered his ERA to 3.70. The Tides, meanwhile, improved to 45-28 and stretched their lead in the IL West to 2 1/2 games.
It was sweet justice for Williams, who posted a 9-2 record for the Lynx last season, but wasn't re-signed in the offseason.
``Every time I pitch against them I really want to shove it up their --- so someone over there has to say, `Man, we should have kept him,' '' said Williams, who signed with the Mets organization as a free agent.
The 6-foot-8 Williams had already pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings against Ottawa this season in two relief appearances.
Williams had a brief stay in the major leagues with the Minnesota Twins in 1990, but saw no action. After turning 30 in May, he trusts time isn't running out on his opportunity to pitch in the majors and feels he is a smarter pitcher these days.
``I used to rely on my fastball,'' Williams said. ``Now I've got a general idea of how to throw inside and outside, and I'm more consistent.''
Williams was nursing a 2-1 lead midway through the sixth when the Tides sent 13 batters to the plate, stroked nine hits and plated eight runs.
Williams admitted he got tight on the bench during the extended inning. He pitched one more inning, then gave way to relievers Jim McCready and Phil Stidham.
Williams has started recently, with regular starters Jason Jacome and Chris Roberts on the disabled list. Williams' role with the team upon their return is still up for debate. But he made a strong argument with this start.
``It's nice to see,'' said Tides manager Toby Harrah, who saw most of it on local television from his office. ``He needs to do these kinds of things to open people's eyes, mine included. He sure didn't hurt himself tonight.''
Harrah was ejected in the second inning by plate umpire Mark Facto after arguing that Ottawa's Rafael Bournigal had fouled off an attempted bunt. Bournigal left the game with a possible broken thumb after being awarded first base, Facto ruling the ball hit Bournigal's thumb first.
``I thought it was a foul ball all the way,'' said Harrah, who went nose-to-nose with Facto and first base umpire Matt Winans for a good three minutes. ``Of course, managers and umpires don't always agree.''
NOTES: Roberts flew to New York on Tuesday to have his shoulder examined by Mets team physicians. Roberts was placed on the 15-day disabled list June 16, retroactive to June 14. . . . The Tides will start righthander Dave Telgheder (3-4, 2.71) tonight against Ottawa Ugueth Urbina (3-1, 2.60).
40 SUSPENDED: The International League on Tuesday suspended 40 players from the Syracuse Chiefs and Scranton Wilkes-Barre Red Barons for two games each and fined them $300 apiece for taking part in a bench-clearing brawl.
League president Randy Mobley suspended 23 Chiefs and 17 Red Barons for their roles in the fight, which occurred Friday in the eighth inning of Syracuse's 9-2 victory at Lackawanna County Stadium in Moosic, Pa.
The suspensions will be carried out two and three players at a time, with the last penalties being imposed July 9 and 10. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
PAUL AIKEN/Staff
Norfolk's Omar Garcia, right, and Ottawa Lynx catcher Joe Siddall
watch Garcia's pop foul in the first inning Tuesday night. Siddall
made the catch to end the inning. The umpire is Mark Facto.
by CNB