THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, August 26, 1996 TAG: 9608260162
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOKOLOSKI, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: MOOSIC, PA. LENGTH: 52 lines
The Norfolk Tides used their last weekend in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season to clinch a playoff berth and remain in the race for a division title.
So a loss Sunday wasn't tough to take.
Mario Diaz drove in three runs with a pair of singles and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre rallied for five runs in the seventh inning to beat the Tides 9-4.
Still, the Tides walked away smiling at 76-57, as they remained 2 1/2 games behind Columbus (79-55) in the International League West with just over a week to play.
``Excellent series,'' Norfolk manager Bobby Valentine proclaimed, despite watching his team's five-game winning streak end. ``To take two of three on the road, and we played a couple of close games, that's what you want to do.''
Sunday's victory was more critical to a Scranton/Wilkes-Barre team desperately trying to remain in the hunt for the playoffs.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre moved within 1 1/2 games of second-place Rochester in the IL East, but must make up three games in the loss column in the span of eight days to enter the postseason.
``We needed it, especially here at home,'' Red Barons manager Ramon Aviles said.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre accomplished it with a five-run seventh that broke a 4-4 tie.
The inning began harmlessly enough, as Norfolk relief pitcher Pedro Martinez quickly retired the first two men he face. But Gene Schall singled, Jon Zuber lined a double to leftfield, the Diaz brought both home with a single to rightfield that gave the Red Barons a 6-4 lead.
``I was just trying to stay back,'' Diaz said. ``I knew he had a good changeup. He gave me a slider to hit. I got it in a good spot. Any pitch in the strike zone, I was going to swing at.''
The Red Barons kept swinging.
Bobby Estalella and Manny Martinez both walked to fill the bases, and David Tokheim's pinch-hit two-run single put Norfolk in an 8-4 hole. Then Desi Reliford drove home the game's final run with a single to center.
``Martinez got a ball up to Zuber,'' Valentine said. ``We were one strike away, with two strikes on Diaz, and he did a good job of hitting.''
The Tides now begin a three-game series in Pawtucket at 7 p.m. tonight, where Norfolk's Shannon Withem (1-3) will hook up with Pawtucket's Erik Schullstrom (1-3).
The Tides return to Harbor Park Thursday to begin a regular-season-ending five-game homestand with Charlotte and Richmond. ILLUSTRATION: BOXSCORE
STANDINGS
[For a copy of the charts, see microfilm for this date.] by CNB