THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, April 29, 1995 TAG: 9504290489
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
Last season with the Norfolk Tides, Aaron Ledesma proved to himself and the New York Mets that he could be a major league shortstop. For his effort, the Mets gave him their Triple-A player of the year award and told him he'd never play short for them again.
With defensive whiz Rey Ordonez charging up behind him, Ledesma was forced to vacate shortstop for third base. It was there that he made his return to Harbor Park on Friday with a sparkling performance to support Dave Telgheder's equally impressive eight innings against the Charlotte Knights.
Ledesma had three hits, including an RBI-double, two stolen bases and made a clutch defensive play. Teamed with Butch Huskey's home run and Telgheder's four-hitter, it produced a 2-0 victory before a paid crowd of 8,200, the second-largest of the young season.
``I'd like to say it's nice to be back, but hey ..Ledesma said with a laugh. ``We're all trying to get to the same place. I'm just trying to have fun. I'm learning a new position and trying to make the best of it.''
The Tides (12-8), who have the International League's best record, made the best of two pitches by Charlotte's Marc Valdes (0-2) to score their runs. After Chris Jones was hit by a pitch to start the fourth inning, Ledesma lined a gapper to right-center that scored Jones, though Ledesma was an easy out at third trying for a triple.
``Spring-training legs,'' Ledesma said. ``I had the piano on my back and the piano player singing a tune up there.''
Then Huskey, anticipating a pitch on the inner half of the plate, jumped on just that. He crushed the next pitch deep into the leftfield picnic area for his first home run.
``That's where I was looking and that's where it was,'' Huskey said. ``I happened to capitalize on it.''
It was more than enough for Telgheder, who got ninth-inning relief from Pete Walker. Few balls were hit hard off the sinkerballer, who walked no one and struck out three. Telgheder, in capturing his first victory against two losses, has walked just one batter in 26 2/3 innings this season, and none over the last 24 2/3 innings.
``I felt good out in the bullpen,'' Telgheder said. ``One time, I was hoping to take what I had out there into the game. I kept the ball down, and hit the outside corner with the ball down.''
Telgheder's only trouble came in the fifth, when he gave up back-to-back singles with one out. But when Valdes bunted, trying to score Curt Ford from third, Ledesma bailed him out. He charged stride-for-stride with Ford and, in one motion, scooped the bunt and tossed it to catcher Alberto Castillo, who held on as Ford slid into him.
It's a play a shortstop never has to make, but Ledesma did it instinctively. As if he's out to prove another point. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by RICHARD DUNSTON, Staff
Tides catcher Alberto Castillo tags out Curt Ford of Charlotte on
Friday night.
by CNB