THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 8, 1995 TAG: 9507080536
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
For 7 1/3 innings Ottawa pitcher Ugueth Urbina bedeviled the Norfolk Tides, but at game's end it was home plate umpire Greg Street who was their primary tormentor.
With two runners on base, two out and centerfielder Butch Huskey representing the tying run at the plate, Street signaled a called third strike that ended a Norfolk rally and sent Ottawa to a 7-4 victory.
Huskey protested so vehemently, following Street several strides toward the umpires' locker area, that Street tossed him from the game even though it had ended.
Fifteen minutes later, in the calmer confines of the Tides' locker room, Huskey was no calmer, insisting that the pitch was ``at least 6 inches'' outside the plate.
``He's by far the worst ------- umpire in the league and he knows it,'' Huskey said. ``That pitch wasn't any damn strike, that's for sure.
``I had an 0-2 count. That guy (relief pitcher J.H. Thobe) wasn't even trying to throw a strike.''
Tides manager Toby Harrah admitted he had a poor view of the pitch from the bench, but nonetheless agreed with Huskey.
``I'd be willing to bet that ball was outside the plate,'' he said. ``It was an 0-2 count and the catcher was set up outside the plate. I don't think Butch could have even gotten a bat on it.''
The Tides rarely got the bat on any pitches hurled by Urbina, a Venezuelan who is 6-1, including a 3-0 mark against Norfolk in the last three weeks. He is responsible for three of the Tides' four losses in their last 19 games.
``He's got a major league change-up,'' Harrah said. ``He can hang the changeup and it doesn't matter because it's so good.''
Norfolk starter Chris Roberts took the loss, surrendering nine hits and five runs in seven innings, including a three-run home run by Ottawa's Tony Barron.
Roberts was relieved in the top of the eighth by Dave Telgheder after giving up back-to-back doubles. Telgheder then surrendered three more hits, including a two-run home run by catcher Chris Martin that gave Ottawa a 7-1 lead.
Urbina departed in the bottom of the eighth with the six-run lead, one the Lynx bullpen nearly blew. The Lynx walked six Tides, including five in a hitless eighth when Norfolk scored twice. Ottawa then gave up two hits and a run in the bottom of the ninth before Thobe caught Huskey looking.
All-star Omar Garcia, back for the first game since being out with a jammed toe, was 3 for 5 with an RBI. Second baseman Jesus Azuaje, called up from Single-A St. Lucie on Wednesday, was 2 for 3 and impressed Harrah.
``He's playing very well,'' Harrah said. ``He's had some great plays in the field for us and is hitting very well.
``I liked what I saw tonight from this team. I liked it a lot. We got down 7-1 and battled back and were one hit away. That's why we're 25 games over
NOTES: Pitcher Jason Isringhausen continues to add to his impressive resume in Norfolk. He was named the Topps International League Player of the Month for June, when he was 4-0 and had a 1.71 ERA. Isringhausen, who will start for the West in the International League All-Star game next week, is 9-0 with a 1.29 ERA for the season. . . . Isringhausen will start Sunday against Ottawa. The Lynx will counter with Willie Frasier (5-6, 3.31). Reid Cornelius (3-1, 2.40) will start today for Norfolk and Barry Manuel (3-6, 3.96) for Ottawa. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by Christopher Reddick, Staff
Tides pitcher Chris Roberts attempts a sacrifice bunt...
Photo by CHRISTOPHER REDDICK, Staff
Norfolk infielder Greg Graham wraps a towel around his head
to stay cool on a humid Harbor Park night.
by CNB