THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 8, 1996 TAG: 9608080556
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: 54 lines
The Norfolk Tides experienced a reversal of fortunes Wednesday night, in more ways than one.
One night after shutting out the Richmond Braves, as well as benefiting from a questionable call from plate umpire Brian Gibbons, the Tides were shut out at The Diamond and the Braves were benefactors of yet another questionable call by Gibbons.
While umpiring third base this time, Gibbons ruled a line shot by Andruw Jones fair in the second inning, leading to the Braves' first run in what would be a 2-0 Richmond victory.
``It was hit too hard for me to really tell,'' said Tides third baseman Shawn Gilbert, who argued the call briefly. ``Foul or fair, he was right on top of it.''
Jones' double followed an infield single by Aldo Pecorilli and left runners at second and third with no outs. Tides starter Rick Reed walked Juan Williams to load the bases.
Lou Benbow then two-hopped a shot off Gilbert's glove, with shortstop Luis Rivera getting Williams at second. But Pecorilli scored on the play.
Reed escaped further damage and ended up going seven strong innings, scattering six hits and striking out eight, which tied his season high. But it was the fifth time the Tides (67-50) have been shut out and the fourth time in which Reed (7-9) was the starting pitcher.
Reed, who faced the minimum three batters in five of his seven innings, was also the losing pitcher in a shutout loss at Ottawa in his previous start.
``He had a good night but we didn't score for him,'' Tides manager Bobby Valentine said. ``He pitched good enough to win.''
So did Richmond's Carl Schutz, who limited the Tides to three hits over seven innings before giving way to Rod Nichols.
Schutz (3-3) was threatened briefly in the fourth inning when Benny Agbayani lined a shot over the head of Williams in center, which went for a triple.
Agbayani, however, was cut down at the plate when Kevin Roberson grounded sharply to Braves third baseman Lou Benbow.
``That was our one opportunity,'' Valentine said. ``He was going on contact. You've got to take a chance to score there.
Benbow had made a brilliant play the night before at Harbor Park on a slow roller by Joel Chimelis, only to have Gibbons call Roberson safe at home, leading to a four-run outburst in the Tides' 4-0 victory.
Schutz, who was making his fourth start as a pro after a career in the bullpen, turned in a crowd-pleaser, reaching behind his turned back to glove a one-hopper by Jason Hardtke to start the fourth.
``I just stuck my glove out and prayed,'' Schutz said. ``If it gets through the middle, then maybe it starts something.''
Richmond added an insurance run in the eighth on a run-scoring single by Robert Smith. Nichols pitched the last two innings to earn his 15th save. by CNB