THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 15, 1995 TAG: 9507150507
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
A strong pitching performance by Chris Roberts wasted, three scoring opportunities squandered, his ninth-inning gamble foiled, Norfolk Tides manager Toby Harrah stewed post game on a sweltering Friday night at The Diamond.
``We deserved to lose that game. They deserved to win it,'' Harrah said after the Richmond Braves edged the Tides, 2-1. ``They just played better than we did.''
The Braves (49-43), nine games behind the Tides (59-35) in the International League's West Division, at least were better at critical moments.
Kevin Grijak and Eddie Perez pounded two mistake pitches by Roberts out of the park for Richmond's runs. Meanwhile, the Tides put Braves' starter Jason Schmidt on and off the hook twice before Richmond's Bobby Moore threw out Ed Alicea at home after catching Jay Payton's liner to medium rightfield in the seventh inning.
However, Alicea, an eight-year veteran, was late tagging up because he broke too far toward the plate when Payton made contact. That was the failing that most irked Harrah.
``That's a rookie mistake,'' Harrah fumed. ``The kind of mistake that, with a (jerk) manager, a guy might not play for a week.''
Earlier, Derek Lee ended the third by grounding out with the bases loaded. And in the sixth, after Omar Garcia, who had three hits, doubled to lead off, Schmidt struck out Butch Huskey and Lee before Alberto Castillo grounded out.
The final frustration also involved Lee and Castillo. Lee singled to start the ninth against closer Rod Nichols. On a 1-0 pitch to Castillo, Harrah ordered a hit-and-run. But Nichols' pitch was way low and outside, Castillo threw his bat at it and missed, and Lee was cut down at second by Perez.
``I didn't want to bunt and give up an out to a guy with (19) saves,'' Harrah said. ``The count was 1-0, we were looking for him to throw a fastball for a strike, but it was so low Bambino couldn't get his bat on it.
``I wanted to make contact and get him to second, and maybe even get a hit in the process. It just didn't work out.''
Richmond manager Grady Little appreciated the attempt.
``That club's so well-rounded they can try just about anything,'' Little said. ``Sometimes it doesn't work. But when you're 30 games over .500 at this point, it's been working more times than not.''
The encouraging part of the evening was Roberts, a lefthander who went eight innings for the second time in 16 starts, gave up seven hits, walked one and struck out six. The Tides gave him a 1-0 lead in the first when Garcia scored from first base on Butch Huskey's bloop single to center that was misjudged by centerfielder Juan Williams.
Grijak tied it, however, by lacing a 2-0 fastball for his ninth home run to begin the second inning. Perez then hit his second home run on a hanging changeup in the fourth. After that inning, Roberts, who has yielded a team-high nine home runs, allowed one hit and retired 10 of the last 11 Braves.
``We couldn't get any runs tonight. That doesn't happen very often,'' said Roberts (5-7).
After struggling for consistency in his first Triple-A season, Roberts, 24, figured he's due.
``It's about time,'' he said. ``I've done a lot of work this season. A lot. Me and (pitching coach Bob Apodaca). I'd like to finish strong and show them I can throw at this level.''
The Tides return to Norfolk tonight for a 7:15 game against Richmond. The pitchers will be Jimmy Williams (7-2, 3.33 ERA) for Norfolk and Terrell Wade (5-7, 5.52) for the Braves. ILLUSTRATION: RICHMOND 2
NORFOLK 1
BOXSCORE
STANDINGS
[For a copy of the statistics, see microfilm for this date.]
by CNB