DATE: Friday, August 22, 1997               TAG: 9708220961

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   49 lines

ISRINGHAUSEN GETS STARTING CALL TONIGHT FOR SLUMPING TIDES

The Norfolk Tides, coming off a day's rest after being swept in three games at Columbus, return to action tonight at Harbor Park with more than a few changes in store.

New York Mets pitcher Jason Isringhausen will begin his second 30-day rehabilitation stint of the season when he takes the mound tonight to start against the Richmond Braves. Isringhausen began the season with Norfolk after elbow and shoulder surgery prematurely ended his 1996 campaign.

Once in Norfolk, Isringhausen's initial rehab stint was cut short when he punched a trash can out of frustration and fractured a bone in his pitching hand. He then contracted tuberculosis while recuperating from the hand injury.

His 30-day rehab assignment this time around began on Aug. 2 and he was a combined 3-0 in three starts with the Gulf Coast League Mets and the St. Lucie Mets, both Class A teams. He did not allow a run in his final start for St. Lucie last Saturday, striking out 10 and walking one and allowing four hits in seven innings.

``I've heard great reports about what Jason has been doing in Florida,'' Tides manager Rick Dempsey said. ``And everybody knows we're short on starting pitching.''

If he's the Isringhausen of old - he earned 1995 International League pitcher of the year honors on his meteoric rise to the major leagues - he will be a welcome addition for the struggling Tides, who fell from first place in the IL West Division this week and are struggling to maintain their hold on second place.

The top two teams in the division advance to postseason play and Norfolk is one game behind Columbus and three games ahead of third-place Charlotte.

Norfolk plays eight of its last 11 games at Harbor Park and all 11 in Virginia. After four games here against Richmond, the Tides visit the Braves for three games and close the season at home against the Ottawa Lynx.

The Tides will also activate outfielder Benny Agbayani from the disabled list. Agbayani, among league leaders in stolen bases and runs scored, strained ligaments in his left knee while sliding into home plate 12 days ago.

In other moves, relief pitcher Yorkis Perez has been recalled by the New York Mets and infielder Shawn Gilbert has been optioned to the Tides to make room for Perez on the Mets' roster.

In another move, the Tides are calling up 22-year-old outfielder Carlos Mendoza from Double-A Binghamton. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

Jason Isringhausen returns for his second 30-day rehabilitation

stint.

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