THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, April 8, 1996 TAG: 9604080156
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
The late acquisition got off to a great start.
Mike Fyhrie, who'd been in the Kansas City Royals' training camp until two weeks ago, threw blanks at Toledo, limiting the Mud Hens to five hits and striking out seven in going the distance for a 6-0 Norfolk Tides victory on Easter Sunday at Harbor Park.
Fyhrie, acquired 15 days ago for a player to be named, equaled the number of innings he'd pitched in spring training while recording the first complete game of the International League season.
Asked how many innings of action he'd seen in the Royals' camp, Fyhrie brought together an index finger and thumb, forming an imperfect circle.
``The Royals had a lot of young pitchers they wanted to look at,'' said Fyhrie, 26. ``When I got to camp with the Tides, I pitched four innings on Monday, five on Friday and that was it.''
With so little activity, it's no wonder Tides manager Bobby Valentine and pitching coach Bob Apodaca looked at each other, then almost in unison asked Fyhrie how he felt after the seventh inning.
``I told them I felt great,'' Fyhrie said. ``I didn't want to come out of a shutout. Plus, this gave the relievers a chance to rest.''
Fyhrie retired 13 of the last 14 batters he faced, with Brian Kowitz's two-out double to left in the eighth being the only damage. No Mud Hen got beyond second base and only two got that far.
While the Mud Hens had troubles getting good wood on the ball, the Tides teed off on Toledo starter Jose Lima in the first inning.
After a bunt single by Kevin Flora, Jay Payton doubled to the gap in right, Roberto Petagine doubled down the leftfield line to drive in two runs and Alex Ochoa tripled to the gap in left for a 3-0 lead.
``We gradually got used to the cold,'' said Ochoa, referring to the Tides' last two games played in 40-degree conditions. ``And after that first inning we got comfortable and were able to take some aggressive hacks.''
The Tides finished with seven extra-base hits including six doubles, two by catcher Chris Howard.
Howard drove in Luis Rivera with one of those doubles in the seventh and Shawn Gilbert doubled home Howard later in the inning.
The Tides' other run came in the sixth when Gilbert singled to left, advanced to second on a check-swing groundout by Flora and scored on a single up the middle by Payton.
``It's not hard to pitch when you're getting that kind of run support,'' said Fyhrie, a 12th-round pick by the Royals in 1991 who pitched collegiately at UCLA. ``I hope it happens all year.''
Fyhrie, who made a combined 27 starts for Triple-A Omaha the last two seasons, going 9-9 in those starts, figures a move from the American Association to the IL only helps his chances of making it to the major leagues.
``More exposure in a different league can't hurt,'' he said. ``I felt I'd done well enough in the last two seasons to be considered, but the Royals never really did give me a chance.''
Valentine was all smiles afterward. Although it's very early, the Tides are 3 for 3 on quality starts from a staff that was drawing some question marks from critics.
In 23 innings, starters Rick Reed, Mike Gardiner and Fyhrie have combined to strike out 24, giving up just 15 hits and one run.
``They're not as bad as some people made them out to be,'' Valentine said. ``They've had the right attitude in preparing for their starts and preparing for the season. They've had three good games. I like 'em.'' ILLUSTRATION: CHRISTOPHER RIDDICK PHOTOS, The Virginian-Pilot
Tides outfielders Gary Thurman, left, and Alex Ochoa both go after a
Toledo fly ball in rightfield. Ochoa somehow managed to make the
catch as he was falling down.
After the catch, Ochoa, left, flips the ball to Thurman as they both
have a good laugh, obviously thankful they didn't collide.
by CNB