THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 19, 1995 TAG: 9508190202
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 92 lines
Three losses to woeful Charlotte, a 2-5 record in the last week and a roster further dismantled by the New York Mets preceded the Norfolk Tides into Friday's game at Harbor Park. There to greet them was Dennis Springer of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons, whose knuckleball had trumped them three times this season.
Not the best of circumstances, even for a club whose clinching of the West Division regular-season title is but a formality.
The Tides, though, behind the bats of Ricky Otero and Kevin Morgan and the arms of Phil Stidham and Bryan Rogers, took some weight from their temporary doldrums with a 2-1 victory, though not at Springer's expense.
An infield single by Morgan, a sacrifice bunt by Charlie Greene and Otero's fourth hit produced the winning run in the eighth inning as Springer, who went seven, looked on.
Then in the ninth, Rogers recorded his eighth save, retiring David Tokheim with runners on first and second to back a heroic effort by Stidham, a reliever making his third spot start this season.
His three-hitter over eight innings helped the Tides (77-50) trim their magic number for the regular-season division title to five and probably assured his place in the rotation as long as Juan Acevedo remains sidelined.
``After losing three in a row and not playing that well, I really wanted to have a good performance,'' said Stidham. ``It might get us back on the right track.''
Stidham (4-2) was roughed up by Richmond his last time out, when he was rushed in after Acevedo was injured. Admittedly more mentally prepared Friday, Stidham had a crackling fastball and a biting sinker that allowed him to retire 13 consecutive batters in one stretch until he hit a man in the sixth.
He allowed his run in the second, but Aaron Ledesma's double and Morgan's two-out single, his first Triple-A RBI, tied it. The Tides then got Stidham the victory with another two-out run in the eighth.
Otero's winning hit, completing his second four-hit game, came off lefthander Brian DuBois, against whom the switch-hitting Otero batted righthanded. Otero entered batting .294 as a righty, but in only 51 at-bats. As a lefthander, Otero was hitting .243 in 177 at-bats, not including his three hits Friday off Springer.
Scranton manager Mike Quade opted to turn Otero around, but Otero singled to left to score Morgan.
``I felt Otero was a little better hitter lefthanded,'' Quade said. ``(DuBois) made a real good pitch. It was damn near in the dirt, where we wanted it. You've got to give Otero credit.''
Tides manager Toby Harrah was eager to praise Otero, too, despite his basepath adventures. Otero, who also made a diving catch in leftfield, was picked off first, nailed at third trying to stretch a double and caught stealing at second.
``That means he was getting on base,'' Harrah said. ``He's overly aggressive at times. You kind of have to live with it.''
ACEVEDO STILL HURTING: Righthander Juan Acevedo, who threw one inning for the Tides last Saturday then left the game at Richmond with a pulled muscle in his rib cage, said he fears the injury could finish him for the season. Acevedo, named the best pitcher in the Double-A Eastern League last year, threw lightly for about seven minutes in the bullpen Friday and said his right side still hurt. ``Today was the first day I thought about it,'' Acevedo, acquired July 31 from the Colorado Rockies, said of the possibility his season is over. ``I can be impatient, but today one of the things I said was this could last the rest of the season. Hopefully, it doesn't, but if it does there's nothing I can do about it.''
WILLIAMS SEND-DOWN: Tides general manager Dave Rosenfield said the Tides enlisted Mike Moore, president of the minor leagues, to look into preventing the Baltimore Orioles from sending ex-Tides pitcher Jimmy Williams, acquired Thursday to complete the Bobby Bonilla trade, to Rochester. They cited the International League good faith agreement that disallows player moves from one league team to another within the final 20 days of the season. However, because the move was a result of a major league deal, Moore said he could find no reason to block it.
NOTABLE: Ray White, the former Norfolk Tars player and manager who died Thursday at 84, was honored at Harbor Park on Friday with a moment of silence before the game. Flags were flown at half-mast. . . . Shortstop Rey Ordonez, gone since Aug. 8, still has not rejoined the team from Miami, where reportedly he has been getting immigration papers in order. ``Manana,'' Harrah said. . . . Reserve Trey McCoy remains sidelined for treatment of ulcers. McCoy has not been with the Tides for four days. . . . Harrah said he has been told that the Tides will not be affected if and when the Mets add a player to replace Brett Butler, who was traded Friday. ``Now, that's subject to change,'' said Harrah, who also thought Huskey would be with him the rest of the season. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by FABIAN MATZERATH
The Red Barons' Brian Koelling flips over the Tides' Aaron Ledesma,
who unsuccessfully tried to break up an inning-ending double play.
by CNB