THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, April 30, 1996 TAG: 9604300447
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
Pawtucket pitcher Rafael Orellano's inflated earned run average of 16.97 was unmistakable foreshadowing heading into Monday's business persons' special at Harbor Park.
So it came as little surprise when the Norfolk Tides feasted on Orellano for seven runs in the first inning of a 10-1 victory to close out a four-game series and an eight-game Tides homestand.
``(Orellano) had a lot of control problems,'' Tides centerfielder Gary Thurman said. ``And when you can eliminate two of a guy's three pitches, it becomes tough to pitch.''
The Tides' first five hitters reached base as they mixed two walks and two singles with a two-run double by Matt Franco.
Luis Rivera also had a run-scoring double, Thurman delivered a two-run triple and Kevin Flora, in his second time to the plate, had a run-scoring single in that first frame. The other run came when Franco stole home after a failed pickoff throw to first base by PawSox catcher Scott Hatteberg.
The Tides, 13-10 and riding a modest two-game winning streak, have today off before beginning a seven-game, eight-day road trip that starts in Columbus Wednesday. Robert Person, who was optioned down from the New York Mets over the weekend, is scheduled to start.
The 23-year-old Orellano led the Double-A Eastern League in strikeouts and innings pitched last season, but something drastic has happened between then and his move to the International League. Pawtucket manager Buddy Bailey just wishes he knew specifically what that is.
``He was so shaky, but I didn't want to pull him out without at least one zero on the board,'' Bailey said.
The lefthanded Orellano, who is now 0-4 with a 19.10 earned run average, posted that zero in the second inning, but not before plucking Franco in the back and Roberto Petagine in the head.
``His control is not good and he's the only one who can help himself at this point,'' Bailey said. ``If you can't get people out in this park, you can't pitch.''
Tides starting pitcher Mike Gardiner had little trouble erasing Pawtucket's hitters, scattering six hits over seven innings and giving up an unearned run in the third on Bo Dodson's sacrifice fly to center.
Gardiner decreased his ERA to 1.76 while upping his record to 3-0 and moving into a tie for the IL lead in victories with, among others, teammates Mike Fyhrie and Derek Wallace.
``After we'd lost four straight, I talked to Fyhrie (Sunday's winning pitcher) about how important it was for both of us to give the team two strong outings,'' Gardiner said. ``But as it turned out, it was the batters who gave the pitchers a chance to win.''
The Tides added single runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, the most memorable coming on Shawn Gilbert's home run to left, his first of the season.
In collecting 23 hits in the two games - 13 on Monday - the Tides upped their team batting average nine percentage points to .256.
``That's just the ebb and flow of the game,'' Tides manager Bobby Valentine said. ``Sometimes baseball comes easy. Sometimes it's harder than anything you've ever done in your life.''
NOTES: The Mets have acquired minor league outfielder Andy Tomberlin from the Oakland organization for a player to be named. Tomberlin is expected to join the Tides Wednesday in Columbus. The most likely scenario has Tides outfielder Jay Payton going on the disabled list to make room for Tomberlin. Payton has been experiencing pain in his surgically repaired right elbow and will see a doctor while the team is in Columbus. ... Second baseman Kevin Morgan missed Monday's game to attend his grandfather's funeral. He is expected to rejoin the club Wednesday. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by MOTOYA NAKAMURA, The Virginian-Pilot
Matt Franco of the Norfolk Tides easily steals home after a failed
pickoff throw to first base by Pawtucket.
by CNB