THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Saturday, May 11, 1996                 TAG: 9605110438
SECTION: SPORTS                   PAGE: C3   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: NORFOLK                            LENGTH: Short :   47 lines

WARE WILL START TONIGHT'S GAME, TRYING TO FIND HIS OLD FORM

After opening the season with the Toronto Blue Jays, Jeff Ware figured he might not see the minor leagues again.

But after three rough appearances, including two as the Blue Jays' fifth starter, Ware was 0-2 with a 16.88 earned run average. With Frank Viola pitching well in the minor leagues in hopes of a comeback, Ware knew his Toronto stay this spring might be brief.

Thus he's back with the Syracuse Chiefs and will start tonight against the Norfolk Tides. Ware's inexplicable troubles have continued with the Chiefs; he is 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA after two starts.

The Tides will counter with Mike Gardiner (4-0), who leads the International League in ERA (1.43), wins and strikeouts (39).

Ware's woes come on the heels of a solid 1995 in which he was 7-0 for Syracuse after recovering from arm surgery three years ago. Ware, who played at Virginia Beach's First Colonial High and Old Dominion University, was also 2-1 in five starts for the Blue Jays following a late-season callup.

Following a solid spring training, Ware believes lengthy inactivity as Toronto's fifth starter was at the root of the problem.

``I fell out of rhythm,'' said Ware, 25. ``Ever since, I've been hanging a pitch here, a pitch there, and it's gotten me in some trouble.

``If I'd been pitching well and had been sent down, I would have been disappointed. But I knew I wasn't pitching well.''

Ware said that the secret to returning to 1995 form will be his success at trouble shooting.

``When I get in trouble on the mound, I've got to find the adjustment that will get me out of trouble,'' Ware said. ``That's what I wasn't able to do in Toronto.''

NOTES: Juan Acevedo's 30-day major league rehabilitation stint ended Friday and he was added to the Tides regular 23-man roster. To make room, Pat Ahearne (1-2, 4.62 ERA) was released. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

``I fell out of rhythm,'' said Jeff Ware, 0-2 with a 16.88 ERA this

year for Toronto.

by CNB