THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Monday, May 22, 1995                   TAG: 9505220124
SECTION: SPORTS                   PAGE: C3   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   45 lines

BIRKBECK CALLED TO METS, JACOME SENT TO NORFOLK

As expected, Mike Birkbeck got his first call to the major leagues since 1992 after Sunday's game and will pitch for the Mets on Wednesday against the Dodgers.

Birkbeck will enter the rotation for lefthander Jason Jacome, who will be sent down and join the Tides today or Tuesday.

``This is very pleasurable this time, because it has been a while,'' said Birkbeck, 34, a righthander who last pitched in the majors in 1992 for the Mets, for one start. He spent parts of the 1986 through 1989 seasons with Milwaukee.

He has a 12-18 mark in the big leagues with a 5.23 ERA. He was 5-3 with a 2.36 ERA for the Tides.

Jacome will return to the Tides' rotation Thursday at home against Richmond. Mets executive vice president Joe McIlvaine said Jacome's first challenge is to regain the confidence that evaporated during his 0-4 start with the Mets, which included a 10.29 ERA.

``He started pitching defensively instead of offensively,'' McIlvaine said. ``His changeup's his best pitch but he started getting away from it. He wasn't throwing over the plate, then he stopped throwing it.''

SPIERS TO REHAB: Also joining the Tides in the next day or two will be infielder Bill Spiers, who is on the Mets' 15-day disabled list. Spiers will be on a rehabilitation assignment with the Tides at least until May 30, when his time on the DL expires.

BRAVES, TIDES FINALLY MEET: The Tides and Richmond Braves meet for the first time tonight at The Diamond in Richmond. The series between the West Division's top two teams, and two of the best pitching staffs in the league, will continue Tuesday in Richmond, then after an off day the teams will play Thursday at Harbor Park.

Tonight's pitching matchup features Chris Roberts (4-3, 5.22) vs. Brad Woodall (0-0, 0.00), the league's most valuable pitcher last season. Woodall was 15-6 with a 2.42 ERA for the Braves a year ago. Jason Isringhausen (2-0, 0.00) will go for the Tides on Tuesday vs. Terrell Wade (1-2, 9.33). by CNB