THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 4, 1994 TAG: 9408050809
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE WISEMAN, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: FORT MILL, S.C. LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
The Charlotte Knights looked impressive, smacking 11 hits in the first game of a doubleheader with the Tides on Wednesday night.
Then they played the second game.
The Knights outdid themselves in the nightcap with 13 more hits to sweep the Tides, 6-3 and 8-3, at Knights Castle.
Charlotte (66-45) blasted three home runs in the second game and had four in the two seven-inning games. Norfolk (55-57) starting pitchers Jonathan Hurst and Frank Seminara took the brunt of the damage.
The Knights' offensive prowess caught Tides manager Bobby Valentine's attention.
``I think they did a great job of hitting,'' Valentine said. ``They definitely outhit us.''
After knocking Norfolk pitching around in the first game, the Knights allowed the Tides to grab a 1-0 lead in the first inning of Game 2.
But the lead was short-lived, as the Knights scored three runs on four hits in their half of the first off Seminara.
Charlotte extended the lead to 6-1 in the second when Mark Lewis, just down from Cleveland, hit a two-run home run. Brian Giles followed with a solo homer.
In the third, with a punch-drunk Seminara still on the mound, J.T. Bruett led off with a single and Miguel Flores slammed a two-run homer for an 8-1 Knights lead.
In just three innings, Tides pitching allowed 11 Charlotte hits.
The Tides had a shot to get back in the game in the fifth inning when they pushed across one run and loaded the bases. But Charlotte pitcher Jerry Dipoto struck out Omar Garcia to escape with an 8-2 lead.
As light rain fell during the first game, both teams pelted the field with hits: Charlotte had 10 and Norfolk nine. Charlotte benefited from a couple of walks and a hit batsman to turn those hits into more runs.
The Knights took the lead in the third inning with a run off Hurst, starting his first game after 30 relief appearances this season.
Rene Gonzales drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on a single to right by Giles. Herbert Perry drove in the run with a line drive that just got over Shawn Hare's head in front of the leftfield wall.
Norfolk grabbed a brief 3-1 lead when Jim Vatcher smacked a two-out, three-run homer to left off Charlotte starter Julian Tavarez. Singles by Jeff McKnight and Garcia preceded the blast.
But Charlotte regained the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth, chasing Hurst with three runs.
A double, hit batsman and single by the bottom three hitters in the Knights order loaded the bases and knocked Hurst out of the game. Kevin Morton replaced him and allowed a Tim Jones sacrifice fly.
Gonzales gave the Knights a 4-3 lead with a double off the leftfield wall, driving in two runs.
Morton allowed two more runs in the fifth. David Bell's leadoff single was followed by two outs. But Jones got a pitch up in the strike zone and slammed it over the wall in right for a two-run homer and a 6-3 Knights lead.
The teams meet for the final time this season at 7:30 tonight. Paul Byrd starts for Charlotte, with Joe Roa pitching for Norfolk. ILLUSTRATION: Charts
Box Scores
Standings
For copy of charts, see microfilm
by CNB