THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 2, 1994 TAG: 9409020763
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 93 lines
The Norfolk Tides snapped a four-game losing streak and started their final homestand of the season with a 3-0 victory Thursday over the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons.
Lefthander Kevin Morton, stepping in for scheduled starter Eric Hillman, and two relievers held the Red Barons to three hits, including just one past the fourth inning.
Morton (5-8) gave up all three hits in seven innings to improve his record to 3-0 over Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre. Jonathan Hurst worked the eighth and Mike Cook earned his 19th save with a perfect ninth.
Third baseman Butch Huskey twice knocked in Quilvio Veras with singles for two Tides runs. Paul Quantrill (3-3) had a two-hitter until the sixth, when Veras walked and scored on a two-out single by Huskey. Veras had two hits and two of a season-high five stolen bases for the Tides (66-74).
Aaron Ledesma knocked in Rick Parker with a sacrifice fly in the seventh for the second run, and in the eighth, another two-out hit by Huskey scored Veras, who had led off with a single.
Morton's victory came at the expense of an old friend from their days in the Boston Red Sox organization. Quantrill and Morton were former teammates who faced each other for the first time.
``It wasn't because of him,'' Morton said. ``I was just trying to throw the ball well and end up on a good note for the year.''
TICKET TALLY: Another paid crowd in excess of 13,000 is expected at Harbor Park tonight, which would establish a Tides attendance record. Thursday's gate of 8,536 pushed them to 522,699 - within 7,009 of last year's mark of 529,708.
The Tides are averaging 8,042, slightly more than last year's 7,906, and Tides president Ken Young can't say he's surprised. Attendance historically drops off in the second year of a stadium or arena, but Young said he guessed that wouldn't be the case here.
``The last four or five games last year we finished with pretty good momentum,'' Young said. ``Fans told me they were really sad to see the season end and were already looking ahead to next year. I see the same thing happening this year.
``Everybody told us to look for a 10 percent drop-off. I didn't think we'd have a drop-off, but I didn't know we'd go up 4 or 5 percent. It was certainly a goal to try to match last year, but now we're looking at 545,000 or 550,000, and with worse weather than last year.''
With good weather and a more interesting and successful team, Young thinks selling 600,000 Tides tickets is not out of the question as soon as next season.
``We need to look at our promotions and try to do some different things. Not the same things all the time,'' Young said. ``We just have to make sure people keep having fun.''
HILLMAN'S FATE? Lefthander Eric Hillman was scratched from Thursday's start and won't work in the final two games. Hillman was removed from his last outing after five innings because of elbow soreness, and it was decided not to use him again, if only to preserve his potential trade value.
At 10-1 with a 2.89 ERA, Hillman was one of the International League's finest pitchers. He is not on the Mets' 40-man roster - and has no future in New York as long as Dallas Green is manager. He can become a minor league free agent if he's not returned to the roster by Oct. 15.
Rather than risk getting nothing for Hillman, the Mets could put him on the roster just to trade him, though there was little interest around baseball before the strike. Of course, that was before Hillman compiled his outstanding statistics and a nine-game winning streak.
That streak, by the way, matches what is believed to be the Tides' record. Walt Terrell won his last nine decisions in 1983 before a June promotion to the Mets.
RETURN VISIT: Catcher Brook Fordyce showed up at Harbor Park on Thursday about 10 pounds heavier, but lighter on his feet now that he's out of the immobilizer on his left leg. Fordyce had plastic surgery on his knee last month and spent the last few weeks mostly lying around at home in Connecticut.
He returned to take in the last few games and clear out his apartment. Fordyce hopes to start a rehabilitation program in Florida soon, with an eye toward winter ball in Puerto Rico or Venezuela.
Actually, Fordyce is eligible for the final homestand. He was activated from the disabled list - pitcher Dave Telgheder went on it with a forearm strain - so he could become the final Tide to serve a two-game suspension for leaving the bench during the scuffle against Richmond on July 17. That was Fordyce's last game.
ON DECK: About 2,000 items will be given away tonight at Fan Appreciation Night. A fireworks display will follow both tonight's game and Saturday's.
Pat Combs (5-11, 6.26) is slated to go for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre against Juan Castillo (1-4, 6.75). ILLUSTRATION: Photo
IAN MARTIN/Staff
Quilvio Veras, who had two hits and two of a season-high five stolen
bases for Norfolk, slides home safely in the sixth.
by CNB