THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, September 5, 1995 TAG: 9509050130
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
Brad Woodall's miserable season got a lot better Monday, when the Richmond Braves' lefthander pulled an eight-inning four-hitter out of his past in Game 1 of the International League playoffs.
The guy who put the Norfolk Tides in a hole had, in 13 outings in an injury-plagued season, rarely approximated the guy who went 15-6 with a 2.42 ERA last year to win the IL's most valuable pitcher award.
A cyst on Woodall's left foot hampered him until early July, when he had it surgically removed. The Tides roughed him up in two starts before then, particularly in mid-June, when they scored seven runs against him in six innings of an 11-0 romp.
But in Monday's 2-0 victory, Woodall went eight innings for the first time this season and, though yielding a few hard-hit outs, seemed like his old self.
``I knew I could do it again. I knew it was a matter of time,'' said Woodall, who sought a reversal after going 4-4 with a 5.10 ERA. ``Maybe this is the time, who knows? I'll find out in five days if I have to pitch again. It's going to be a good five days. I haven't many outings like this all year. I'm going to relax for a little while.''
Nearly a third of Woodall's pitches were changeups, a pitch that consistently has given the Tides, through all their changing faces, problems.
``Guys who throw a lot of changeups give Triple-A hitters trouble, even big-league hitters trouble,'' Tides manager Toby Harrah said. ``And he really didn't make too many mistakes.''
Woodall, 26, said having the cyst, which pressed on a nerve in his foot, removed was the beginning of his turnaround. Since the surgery, he is 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA.
``I feel a lot freer out there, like I'm able to push off, and the action on my pitches is coming back,'' Woodall said.
GREAT DEFENDERS: Woodall was backed by outstanding defense, especially from Ed Giovanola, who moved from shortstop to third base in the absence of injured Mike Sharperson.
Giovanola, an ex-third baseman who's been Richmond's regular shortstop the last two seasons, had seven assists, started a double play and kept Kevin Morgan's ground ball down the line to an infield single rather than a potential run-scoring double in the fourth.
His effort headed a team performance that included nice running catches by leftfielder Juan Williams and rightfielder Jermaine Dye, a diving stop at first by Tyler Houston and Williams' strong throw to the plate to get Ricky Otero.
``That's the way we're going to have to do it,'' said Giovanola, making just his third appearance at third this season. ``We're not going to score a lot of runs in this series, neither team is. There's good pitching on both sides. The team that makes more routine plays is going to win.''
Richmond manager Grady Little hinted that Giovanola, a .321 hitter, would remain at third tonight, even if Sharperson, who's had a stiff neck, can play. Sharperson, batting .319, is likely to play first. That would keep Pablo Martinez, who played for the Tides last year, at short.
INTO THE FIRE: Dye made his Triple-A debut Monday and batted clean-up. He was brought up from Double-A Greenville to replace pitcher Darrell May, who was sent to Atlanta. Dye, who doubled in four at-bats, hit .288 with 15 home runs and 71 RBIs in Greenville.
NOTABLE: The shutout was just the second against the Tides since July 10. . 1.56 ERA at home. . . . An unofficial count had Wilson with 105 pitches in just six innings. ILLUSTRATION: BOXSCORE
PLAYOFF GLANCE
PLAYOFF STATISTICS
[For a copy of the graphics, see microfilm for this date.]
by CNB