THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 2, 1995 TAG: 9507020183
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
July opened on the Norfolk Tides the way June ended, which is to say that the Tides are still cruising. Almost too easily, actually. So effortlessly that manager Toby Harrah, picking out his team's character flaws after another victory Saturday night, said, ``Well, there have been a few bunt opportunities we haven't executed. And we continue to miss signs on a regular basis.''
Sure, but nobody was out doing laps of penance after the Tides whipped the woebegone Richmond Braves again, 7-2, before a paid crowd of 10,546 at Harbor Park. Fireworks were the postgame attraction, but the action during the neat two hours and 11 minutes the game consumed was typical of how the Tides have mounted a 9 1/2-game lead in the International League West and built their record to 53-30.
Pitching; excellent. Defense; ditto. Hitting; middling but for one inning, a seven-run third off loser Chris Brock (1-6) that featured six singles and a two-run poke to center that Ricky Otero stretched into a double.
All-star first baseman Omar Garcia knocked in a run with a single in the third to extend yet another hitting streak - this one's at eight games. He then left the game with a bruised little toe on his right foot.
Starter Jimmy Williams (6-2) gave back two runs in the fourth but finished his six innings strongly. Al Osuna and Phil Stidham shared the final three innings, making it moot that the Tides managed just two hits after the third.
The result was the Tides' 11th victory in their last 13 games, their hottest run of the season. They have opened their huge lead only since June 17, when they were actually in a tie for first place with Richmond.
However, wheels have fallen off all around the Braves, who are 1-11 since June 17 and feel the fowl breath of the third-place Toledo Mud Hens, one game behind them, on their backs.
``It's starting to get depressing,'' Richmond outfielder Brian Kowitz said. ``It's beyond frustrating.''
On the Norfolk side, it's hard to imagine it being any better.
``It's really great to be winning here because last year was so bad,'' said Butch Huskey, part of manager Bobby Valentine's 67-75 club a year ago. ``This surprises me a little bit. I never thought we'd be this far up. It's awesome.''
It's chemistry, they're saying in the Tides' clubhouse. The intangible born of friendly card games and golf outings that spreads to the field.
``It's a cliche, but teams take the personality of their manager,'' Stidham said. ``Toby's a laid-back guy; we get away with some stuff that other teams probably wouldn't. But he knows we've been producing on the field. We go out there and everybody's relaxed. I've never been on a team like this.''
Outfielder Carl Everett has, at least often enough to know something good when he feels it.
``When a team does things together and has that harmony, it carries onto the field,'' Everett said. ``This team gets along, nobody's out to outdo each other. Those are the best teams, and this is one of them.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
VICKI CRONIS/Staff
The Tides' Ricky Otero scores past Richmond catcher Eddie Perez. He
reached on a two-run double in Norfolk's seven-run third inning.
Photo
VICKI CRONIS/Staff
Tides shortstop Rey Ordonez gets some air as he throws to first
during the Tides' victory Saturday night.
by CNB