THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, April 11, 1996 TAG: 9604110477
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
The Norfolk Tides' bats didn't pop often Wednesday night. But when they did, it was usually a loud pop.
A pair of three-run home runs by Kevin Flora and Luis Rivera accounted for two of the Tides' four hits in the first game of a doubleheader as they topped the Columbus Clippers 7-5 at Harbor Park.
In the second game, pitcher Juan Acevedo, down from the New York Mets on a rehabilitation assignment, had a rocky outing, giving up seven hits and four runs in three innings as the Tides lost 6-2.
The Tides and Clippers play their third game in 24 hours with a businessperson's special today at 12:15 p.m. Mike Gardiner (0-0, 1.50 ERA) will start for the Tides against Kent Wallace (0-1, 3.60).
In the third inning of the first game Wednesday, Flora lined a fastball into the picnic area beyond leftfield for a 3-1 lead following a leadoff double by Gary Thurman and a single by Shawn Gilbert.
Luis Rivera did likewise in the fifth after Columbus starter Matt Drews got himself in trouble with both his arm and his glove.
``I looked up at the scoreboard at one point and said, `Wow, only four hits,' '' Flora said. ``But two of them were key.
``Drews didn't have good control of his curveball. In fact he was real wild with it. And he had to come with the fastball.''
Drews struggled throughout, walking four and throwing two wild pitches. But after striking out Gilbert to open the fifth, his control problems heightened when he hit both Flora and Payton.
Drews then dropped a throw from first baseman Ivan Cruz while covering the bag on a grounder by Roberto Petagine.
Alex Ochoa followed with a sacrifice fly to score Flora, then Rivera drilled a shot off the side of the picnic-area concession stand. All four runs in the inning were unearned.
Tides starter Rick Reed went six innings for the victory, giving up seven hits. Joe Ausanio pitched two-thirds of an inning for the save, but the Clippers' last at-bat added some excitement to the evening.
Joe Crawford relieved Reed to start the seventh, but gave up a one-out double to Jaime Torres and walked No. 9 hitter Robert Hinds. Ausanio then gave up a run-scoring double to Tim Barker and walked Marc Marini, mixing in a wild pitch that allowed Hinds to score.
Ausanio then fanned Bubba Carpenter and rightfielder Ochoa gloved Ruben Rivera's liner.
``It wasn't pretty, but it was a win,'' Tides manager Bobby Valentine said. ``There weren't a whole lot of big nights at the plate to get excited about, but what are you going to do?''
In the second game, back-to-back home runs by Tim McIntosh and Ivan Cruz in the third lowlighted Acevedo's first action since a hamstring pull prematurely ended his spring training.
Acevedo came out after reaching his pitch-count limit of 70. The righthander is expected to make two more starts for the Tides.
PLAYER ADDITION: The Tides will add third baseman Matt Franco to the roster, and probably the lineup, today.
``Since it's a day game following a doubleheader, I'd say the chances are good,'' Valentine said. ``Somebody's going to need a rest.''
Franco, acquired from the Chicago Cubs' Triple-A team for a player to be named, gives the Tides another lefthanded bat, bringing Norfolk's total to two.
``I think that will make it a little tougher on opposing pitchers,'' Valentine said. ``They can't stay in a groove facing nothing but righties.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
CHRISTOPHER REDDICK/The Virginian-Pilot
Kevin Flora is greeted by Tides manager Bobby Valentine after his
three-run home run.
by CNB