THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 30, 1995 TAG: 9504300184
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
What was suspected before the season is being proven, 21 games in, at least. There's no weak link in the Norfolk Tides' pitching rotation, which is making their relief crew a group of forgotten men.
Saturday at Harbor Park, an unearned run in the fourth inning prevented Mike Birkbeck from leading the Tides to their third shutout in four games. As it was, they coasted past the Charlotte Knights, 8-1, for their fourth victory in a row thanks to Birkbeck's mastery over seven innings and their own six-run third.
That eruption off starter Kurt Miller began with six consecutive hits, five of which were singles. The Tides (13-8) had 13 hits for the night, including three by third baseman Aaron Ledesma, who was 3 for 3 and is 6 for 6 over the last two games.
Alberto Castillo, Omar Garcia and Chris Jones had two hits apiece, and Rey Ordonez, 3 for his last 18 coming in, had a two-run single in the big third inning.
``Something I've learned the last couple of years pitching in Richmond is A) winning covers up a lot of mistakes and B) it's a whole lot of fun,'' said Birkbeck (3-2), who lowered his earned-run average to 1.09. ``And when you don't win it's a surprise.''
Birkbeck's effort was another in a line of match-this performances by his rotation-mates. Of Tides' relievers, the one with the most innings is Bryan Rogers, who worked the ninth Saturday to give him only 13. The work just isn't there.
Birkbeck allowed four hits, walked none and struck out seven against the International League's best-hitting club. Dave Telgheder gave up just four hits in eight innings Friday.
``It made no sense to work anybody any differently than Gator did last night,'' Birkbeck said. ``The only question then is execution.''
An error on second baseman Ed Alicea prolonged the fourth inning, in which Birkbeck gave up his run on two hits. Of the 10 runs the 34-year-old righthander has allowed this season, only four are earned.
``There's lots of good competition here,'' Birkbeck said. ``If somebody pitches good, you want to go out and pitch good, too.''
After the game, the Tides released outfielder Shawn Abner. A former No. 1 draft choice by the Mets, Abner hit .258 in 31 at-bats with no home runs and one RBI. by CNB