THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 16, 1995 TAG: 9508160588
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE WISEMAN, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: FORT MILL, S.C. LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
Identifying the first-place team from the last-place team turned difficult in Charlotte's 9-7 International League baseball win over Norfolk Tuesday night.
Early stumbles by IL West Division champion-in-waiting Norfolk allowed cellar-dwelling Charlotte to build an 8-0 lead after four innings. The Tides' power erased most of it, but Triple-A rookie Kevin Morgan's mistake in the eighth inning helped the Knights (52-72) to escape with their fourth win in a row.
Norfolk (76-48) scored three runs to pull within 9-7 with no outs in the eighth. With Alex Ochoa at second and Edwin Alicea at first, shortstop Morgan fouled off two bunt attempts.
He worked the count full and manager Toby Harrah sent the runners. Morgan took a called third strike on the inside corner and Ochoa was thrown out easily at third base.
``His job was to bunt the ball in that situation and he failed,'' Harrah said. ``Middle infielders have to do the little things. But he's a young kid and I like him a lot. He's gonna do fine.''
Cesar Diaz grounded out to end the threat and the Tides went down in order in the ninth.
The Tides' magic number to clinch the West title remained at 7, with Richmond playing a late game.
Tides starter Chris Roberts suffered his eighth loss in his last 10 decisions. Roberts (6-11) walked five and allowed eight hits in his four innings as the Knights built their big lead.
``Walks and base hits are ailing him,'' Harrah said. ``It's the walks before the home runs and base hits that hurt.''
Roberts walked the first three batters in a four-run Charlotte first inning. He picked off lead-off man Jeff Carter, but walked Doug Dascenzo and Bob Zupcic. Russ Morman singled in Dascenzo, Terry Jorgensen singled to load the bases and two runs scored when Erik Pappas hit an infield single and Alicea threw wildly to home. Eddie Zosky added an RBI groundout for the Knights.
In the second inning, Dascenzo smacked a two-out, bases-empty home run and another run came in on a Morgan error with the bases loaded. The Knights made it 8-0 in the fourth when Dascenzo walked and Zupcic homered.
The Tides fought back with two big rallies. Derek Lee's fifth-inning, pinch-hit grand slam left Charlotte with an 8-4 lead. Ochoa, Alicea and Morgan singled prior to Lee's blast.
After the Knights scored a run in the sixth, Norfolk put the first five runners on base to make things exciting in the eighth. But this rally fell short.
``This team has played all year like that,'' Harrah said. ``They've come back and won games just like tonight's.''
Notes: Mets outfielder Ryan Thompson, who has been on the DL since July 18 with a strained right hamstring, will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Bingahmton today. He is expected to be restored to the active roster by the weekend. . . . Mets pitcher Pete Harnisch is to undergo arthroscopic surgery today for a torn muscle in his left shoulder. by CNB