DATE: Wednesday, April 30, 1997             TAG: 9704300730

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE:    RICH RADFORD

                                            LENGTH:   27 lines

CRAWFORD PITCHER OF WEEK

Norfolk Tides lefthander Joe Crawford was named International League pitcher of the week after winning both starts last week and compiling a 1.29 earned run average. In 14 innings, Crawford allowed 13 hits, walked four and struck out 11.

Crawford is the first Tide to be honored as either pitcher or player of the week this season.

``The first key is getting two starts in one week,'' Crawford said. ``The second is that my teammates scored a lot of runs and made it easy to pitch.''

The Tides expect two additions to their roster today following a deal for minor leaguers between the New York Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Mets traded pitchers John Carter and Erick Ojeda for outfielders Wes Chamberlin and Ramon Espinoza. Carter had been pitching for Double-A Binghamton and Ojeda, a lefthander, for Class A Capital City.

Chamerlin had been with Calgary of the Pacific Coast League while Espinoza had been playing for the Carolina Mudcats in the Double-A Southern League.

Norfolk has been playing one short of a full roster and is now two players short after infielder Shawn Gilbert was placed on the seven-day disabled list, retroactive to May 26.

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