THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 17, 1995 TAG: 9505170205
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
Visiting from New York, where his pitchers have made many early season games too interesting for their own good, Mets executive vice president Joe McIlvaine beamed as he greeted Norfolk Tides manager Toby Harrah after Tuesday's game.
``We haven't had one that easy all year,'' McIlvaine gushed. ``Even though it was only a three-run lead, it was comfortable.''
McIlvaine's first look at the International League's best team was typical Tides; let the pitchers pitch, scratch out a couple runs and crank up the stereo in a boisterous, winning clubhouse.
This one was a 3-0, four-hitter over the Syracuse Chiefs, the Tides' seventh victory in a row, in their return to Harbor Park. It came after an 8-3 road trip that allowed the Tides (26-12) to put 4 1/2 games between themselves and the second-place Richmond Braves in the West Division.
Six innings from Dave Telgheder (2-2), now a spot starter, two by Phil Stidham and one by Pete Walker turned the trick in a tidy two hours and nine minutes. The Tides managed only four hits as well, and are blazing through the league despite hitting just .251. But two of Tuesday's hits, combined with two walks and a sacrifice fly, produced two runs in the fourth inning off Huck Flener.
The final run, scored without a hit in the seventh, was mere excess.
``We've got a good staff, no question about it,'' said Telgheder, who lost his spot in the rotation when Jason Isringhausen arrived from Double-A last week. ``We'd like to get more runs, but the staff's pitching so well, we pretty much know we're going to be in every game.''
A double by Rey Ordonez, Omar Garcia's single, then consecutive walks to Derek Lee and Jarvis Brown forced in the only run the Tides needed. Ryan Thompson followed with a towering fly to left-center that would have been a grand slam had the wind not been blowing in from centerfield.
Such things happen with regularity at Harbor Park, though. This season, the same goes for dominating pitching, to the tune of a league-best 2.76 earned-run average. And to the chagrin of a veteran like Telgheder, bumped to the bullpen despite a 2.57 ERA that is among the 10 best in the league and just three walks in 42 innings.
``I'd rather start, but when Jason came up I happened to be the one that came out of the rotation,'' said Telgheder, who saw Isringhausen strike out nine Chiefs and yield four hits in 7 2/3 shutout innings last week. ``But look what he did in his first game. He threw great. It's hard to complain.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
RALPH FITZGERALD
The Tides' Rey Ordonez slides into second with a double after
driving the ball to deep leftfield Tuesday night at Harbor Park.
Syracuse's Felipe Crespo tries to make the tag.
by CNB