THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 30, 1996 TAG: 9605300529
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STAN OLSON, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: FORT MILL, S.C. LENGTH: 55 lines
If the rest of the Norfolk Tides hit like rightfielder Alex Ochoa Wednesday night, Charlotte never would have hd a chance.
Unfortunately, only Alex Ochoa hit like Alex Ochoa, and Charlotte grabbed a 6-2 International League victory over the Tides at Knights Castle.
Ochoa, who has been hitting all season, did some more Wednesday, collecting three singles and two walks in five plate appearances. That effort boosted his league-leading batting average to .377.
It also prompted Charlotte pitcher Matt Whisenant to say, ``I don't think he belongs in this league.''
Charlotte manager Sal Rende said ``He could very well be playing at the next level.''
``He definitely figures in the (New York) Mets' plans,'' Tides manager Bobby Valentine said. ``He comes back from an injury and gets five straight hits.''
Ochoa, though, got little help.
The Tides (28-22) came into the game with the league's best recod, but lost to the Knights (21-24) for the sixth time in nine games this season.
And Charlotte picked a peculiar way to win it, snapping a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the fourth inning when Whisenant, who had never had a hit in his professional career, got his first.
With two outs, Whisenant, who had struck out in each of his four previous at-bats this season, stepped to the plate with a runner on first. He hit the first pitch from Tides starter Juan Avecedo over the fence in center to make it 3-1.
Avecedo then walked Cris Clapinski, and Kurt Abbott tripled him home to boost the lead to three.
Charlotte scored first, getting a run in the bottom of the second on an RBI double to right by Erik Johnson. But Acevedo escaped a no outs and runners on second and third jam.
Norfolk tied it 1-1 in the fourth, but could have broken the game open. Terrel Lowery and Jason Hardtke opened with singles, and Luis Rivera walked to load the bases. Alberto Castillo then worked the count to 3-0.
But Whisenant recovered, striking Castillo out. He also struck out pitcher Juan Avecedo, although Lowery scored on a wild pitch. Gary Thurman flew to center to end the inning.
Norfolk made it 4-2 on Ochoa's RBI single in the seventh, but Charlotte pulled away with two more runs in its half. Abbott opened with a double, and eventually scored on a two-out error. Johnson singled in another run.
``We had a lot of chances,'' Valentine said. ``We just couldn't capitalize on our opportunities.'' the Tides left 11 runners on base.
The teams conclude their three-game series tonight at 7:05. BOX SCORE STANDINGS TEAM STATISTICS [For a copy of the charts, see microfilm for this date.] by CNB