THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, June 5, 1996 TAG: 9606050531
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 54 lines
Norfolk Tides pitcher Rick Reed took a keepsake from Tuesday night's 6-0 victory over the Charlotte Knights, positioning the ball at the top of his locker stall and glancing at it appreciatively as passing teammates offered their congratulations.
It's not often when a pitcher hits a home run.
And Tides pitchers have limited themselves to one every generation.
Reed's pitching effort wasn't bad either.
Reed allowed just three hits in seven innings and hit the first home run of his pro career as the Tides (32-24) won for the 11th time in 15 games.
Paul Byrd and Derek Wallace each pitched a perfect inning as the Tides posted their fourth shutout in 10 games. All four have been combined efforts.
``Without a doubt Rick could have gone nine innings,'' Tides manager Bobby Valentine said. ``But we needed to get Byrd and Wally some work.
``We gave Rick some runs tonight and he was determined to keep that lead. He went out and got quick strikes. That's the way to go about it. Sometimes, if you think long, you think wrong.''
Reed threw 73 pitches in improving to 3-5 and the only three Knights to reach base were Tommy Gregg on a slicing double down the leftfield line in the first, Joe Siddall on a single down the first-base line in the sixth and Billy McMillon on a single to right in the seventh.
Alberto Castillo provided Reed with all the runs he'd need with a two-run home run off Charlotte starter Chris Seelbach in the second inning. Castillo deposited a 3-0 pitch into the picnic area beyond leftfield.
Before the crowd of 4,423 had calmed, Reed smacked Seelbach's next offering barely over the wall in left. It was the first home run by a Tides pitcher since Mike Scott in 1978.
``You know the saying a blind squirrel finds an acorn every once in a while?'' Reed said. ``I found the acorn. I can't hit.''
Reed was more content with the pitching performance.
``(Castillo) knew exactly what I wanted to throw tonight,'' Reed said. ``I don't think I shook him off once. We were on the same page all night.''
The Tides scored their other three runs in the third when Matt Franco and Alex Ochoa singled, Andy Tomberlin walked, Kevin Roberson walked to drive in a run and Luis Rivera followed with a two-run double to the gap in right.
NOTES: Tides outfielder Alex Ochoa was named Topps International League player of the month for May after hitting .404 with five home runs and 24 runs batted in. He had a slugging percentage of .697 for the month and an on-base percentage of .454. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
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