THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, July 24, 1995 TAG: 9507240131
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM LEO, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: SYRACUSE, N.Y. LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
After winning the first three games of a four-game series against Syracuse with their bats, the Norfolk Tides found a new way to win Sunday night.
The Tides had scored 27 runs in victories Thursday, Friday and Saturday. On Sunday they managed only three, but starter Reid Cornelius and relievers Bryan Rogers, Don Florence and Paul Byrd made them hold up for a 3-0 victory over the Chiefs.
The win improved the Tides' IL-West leading record to 65-38 and marked the first time Norfolk has been 27 games over .500 all season.
The biggest play for Norfolk came in the bottom of the first inning. With two out, the Chiefs had the bases loaded when Chris Weinke lofted a fly ball to shallow center. Shortstop Rey Ordonez went about 30 feet into the outfield and made a diving catch to end the inning.
``Rey is just incredible in the infield,'' Cornelius said. ``I don't think any other player in the league - maybe the big leagues - would have made that play. That really gave me a big boost.''
Cornelius, who was acquired June 8 by the parent New York Mets from Montreal in exchange for first baseman David Segui, allowed only five hits in 7 1/3 innings. He struck out eight and walked two while improving his record as a Tide to 6-0. In those six starts, Cornelius has a 0.85 earned-run average.
He was 1-1 for the Ottawa Lynx.
``I can't really explain (the difference), except for the talent on this ballclub,'' he said. ``We score a lot of runs and we play great defense. Knowing how potent this team is really helps me relax on the mound.''
The Tides scored in the top of the first against Huck Flener (5-7). Carl Everett opened the game with a double and scored on a one-out single by Omar Garcia.
Ed Alicea had a leadoff home run in the sixth, marking the ninth consecutive game the Tides have homered. Butch Huskey had a home run in the ninth off Chiefs reliever Paul Spoljaric. It was Huskey's IL-leading 20th home run of the season and his fourth of the series.
The Chiefs threatened in the eighth when they put runners aboard on a walk and a one-out single by Brent Bowers. Tides manager Toby Harrah pulled Cornelius in favor of Rogers, who enticed John Ramos to bounce into a force at third base. Florence then came in and got slugger Carlos Delgado on a grounder to second.
Byrd pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his fifth save.
DAR-RYL: Darryl Strawberry might be at Harbor Park tonight after all.
The Charlotte Observer reported in today's editions that Strawberry is expected to travel to Norfolk with the Columbus Clippers for a three-game series with the Tides.
Columbus officials denied on Friday that Strawberry would come to Norfolk. But that was before reports surfaced about a contract dispute between Strawberry and the New York Yankees. Until the dispute is resolved, Strawberry apparently will stay in Triple-A.
CASTILLO MOVES UP: Catcher Alberto Castillo was called up by the Mets on Sunday to replace the injured Todd Hundley. Castillo was hitting .267 with four home runs and 31 RBIs for the Tides. Norfolk, meanwhile, received two players from Double-A Binghamton. Righthander Phil Stidham was sent up to replace Jason Jacome, who was traded Friday to the Kansas City Royals. The Tides also got Ben Boka, a catcher, to replace Castillo. MEMO: Staff writer Harry Minium contributed to this report.
ILLUSTRATION: GAMEWATCH
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by CNB