THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 22, 1995 TAG: 9508220424
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
In the year of the hot pitching prospect, it seems only fitting that the Norfolk Tides' latest golden arm will have the ball with a chance to clinch a division title.
Righthander Paul Wilson will try to sew up the Tides' first divisional title since 1988 tonight when they complete their two-game series with the Charlotte Knights. The champagne has been ordered.
Norfolk (79-51) cut its magic number to one game Monday night, beating the Knights, 3-1, at Harbor Park while the Richmond Braves were losing at Toledo, 8-2.
The Tides' lead, now 11 1/2 games over Richmond in the West Division, took seed when Bill Pulsipher was the staff ace. It grew to double digits with Jason Isringhausen providing the pitching theatrics.
But with both now pitching for the New York Mets, it's up to the second wave of young Tides arms. And who better than Wilson, the top overall pick in last year's major league amateur draft.
``Seems right that Wilson gets a chance to clinch it,'' said rightfielder Alex Ochoa, who hit his first home run as a Tide on Monday, a three-run shot to left in the third inning.
Ochoa, acquired by the Mets in the Bobby Bonilla multi-player deal of a month ago, has hit for average (.337) and has been impressive in the field since his arrival.
But he'd had a power outage until driving a 1-2 changeup from Kurt Miller into Harbor Park's picnic area.
``When I was up and had two strikes on me, I was thinking, `It's not going my way today,' '' said Ochoa, who hit eight home runs with Rochester before the trade.
Ochoa had struck out in the first. In the second, he misplayed a shot down the right field line by Eddie Zosky into a run-scoring triple. In the third, he lost a lazy Doug Dascenzo fly ball in the lights, letting it drop for a double.
``When I got back to the bench, I told (starting pitcher Robert) Person, `If I can't do it with the glove, maybe I can do it with the bat,' '' Ochoa said.
Person made the most of the two-run cushion, pitching seven strong innings before giving way to Pete Walker, who earned his seventh save. Person, who was making his third start as a Tide, struck out six, walked three and scattered six hits.
``I didn't want to get my first Triple-A win next year and there are only a couple more starts left in the regular season,'' Person said.
This staff, which has been rewoven with the callups of Person and Eric Ludwick in the last two weeks, now has its sights on the post-Labor Day International League playoffs.
``I've been in playoffs the last three years,'' Person said. ``And you don't want to go in there on a slump. It's important that this staff build some momentum. We've got to have some confidence going in. That's what these last two weeks are about.''
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Catcher Jorge Posada of Columbus and Charlotte pitcher Marc Valdes have been selected the International League players of the week.
Posada had nine hits during the week ended Saturday, including five for extra bases. Posada had three hits, including a double and a home run, in the Clippers' 9-5 victory over Ottawa on Aug. 13.
Valdes, a righthander, won two games during the week, including a 9-0 complete-game victory over Syracuse on Aug. 14. He also picked up the victory in the Knights' 7-4 win over Richmond on Saturday. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by L. Todd Spencer
Norfolk starting pitcher Robert Person left, making his third start
as a Tide, struck out six, walked three and scattered six hits in
seven innings Monday night before giving way to Pete Walker, who
earned his seventh save.
by CNB