THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, August 14, 1995 TAG: 9508140244
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
The pitcher with the most victories in the International League captured No. 11 on a sweltering Sunday afternoon at The Diamond. Jimmy Williams, the Norfolk Tides' 30-year-old lefthander who has never thrown a pitch in the majors in 11 pro seasons, three-hit the Richmond Braves over seven innings in the Tides' 4-0 win.
With relief from Pete Walker and Bryan Rogers, and an offense sparked by Ricky Otero, Williams improved a resume that nobody seems to be noticing. Nobody who can put him in the majors, that is.
``I'm 30 years old and toward the end of my career, what have I got to lose?'' said Williams, 11-4 with a 3.05 ERA and 20-6 over the last two IL seasons. ``Every day I ask myself what I have to do. I just want a shot, someone to give me a chance to see how well I'd do. Who knows, it might click. That's all I'm asking for, from anybody.''
Williams was challenged twice Sunday, in innings during which his nemesis, bases on balls, fueled Richmond rallies. However, by dialing down the intensity of his effort in the mid-90s heat, Williams said he was able to reach back to escape trouble.
``I wasn't trying to overpower the ball,'' said Williams, who walked four and struck out two. ``I paced myself, and when I needed to hump up, I humped up and threw strikes. That was the key, throwing the ball and letting it move.''
In a starting rotation depleted by promotions and injuries, Williams and Paul Wilson are the horses now as the Tides (76-47) close in on the West Division regular season title. The magic number to clinch first place melted to six. For Williams, it is a heady place to be, considering he was pitching in Italy in 1992 and ready to quit the game.
He managed to hook on with the Cubs organization in 1993, though, and Williams said he was set on the proper path by his coach, Moe Drabowsky. Only since then, Williams said, has he gotten ``a grip on how to pitch, moving the ball around, getting people to hit it.''
Richmond starter Tom Harrison (2-1) tried to follow Williams' lead, but Otero hurt him twice. Otero began the game with a walk, stole second, moved to third on Jay Payton's fly to left and scored on Omar Garcia's fly to right.
That was the only run until the seventh, when Otero lined a two-out triple to leftfield to score new catcher Cesar Diaz, up from Class A St. Lucie, who had singled.
That helped Williams bump his three-season Triple-A mark to 25-9.
``He doesn't get hit,'' pitching coach Bob Apodaca said of Williams, who has yielded 89 hits in 106 1/3 innings. ``The pain is usually self-inflicted.''
Not that there is much pain to speak of this year. Frustration over being a career minor leaguer, yes.
``That's always going to be there,'' Williams said. ``But I appreciate the game more. I'm enjoying playing right now.'' ILLUSTRATION: BOXSCORE
STANDINGS
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