THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, May 14, 1996 TAG: 9605140418
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
Rick Reed rationalized that there's a hard-luck pitcher in every rotation. That doesn't make it any easier to accept.
``I've never been that pitcher on a staff,'' said Reed, who's become that man. ``It's frustrating.''
The frustration level increased Monday night as the Norfolk Tides fell 4-1 to the Syracuse Chiefs at Harbor Park.
The Tides have averaged less than three runs a game in Reed's eight starts this season and have won only one game that Reed (1-4) has started.
``Shoot, we're a good club,'' Reed said. ``We can hit. I think we've got the best team in the league.
``We'll bust out of this and maybe pull four or five games ahead. I'm not down on these guys. ... There's always a pitcher ... who gets in a funk like I'm in.''
How snakebit are the Tides, who've lost four of their last five, when Reed pitches?
Leadoff doubles by Alex Ochoa in the second inning and Alberto Castillo in the third resulted in nothing.
Then the Tides loaded the bases in the seventh with nobody out, but came away with just one run.
Even when centerfielder Gary Thurman made the play of the game in the sixth, the Tides couldn't turn it into an emotional lift at the plate, going down in order.
Thurman had made a running grab at the fence in right-center that robbed D.J. Boston of extra bases with the Chiefs leading 3-0.lked pinch-hitter Matt Franco to score a run. But Robinson struck out Alberto Castillo and Kevin Morgan to escape the inning with minimal damage.
"That really was a good play," Tides manager Bobby Valentine said. "Best play I've seen him make this year." [Five paragraphs of text are missing.]
Syracuse's Mike Huff added a home run in the eighth.
``Rick's pitched well enough,'' Flora said. ``The guy's just gotten some bad breaks.''
NOTES: Tides pitcher Mike Gardiner was named International League pitcher of the week after winning two starts - one a seven-inning complete game - and not allowing an earned run over 13 innings. ILLUSTRATION: L. TODD SPENCER
Despite the tag by Shawn Gilbert of the Tides, Miguel Cairo of
Syracuse steals third base.
by CNB