
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 8, 1994                    TAG: 9406080550 
SECTION: SPORTS                     PAGE: C3    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: BY AARON PORTZLINE, CORRESPONDENT 
DATELINE: 940608                                 LENGTH: TOLEDO, OHIO

CLIPPERS COME BACK, EDGE TIDES IN THE 9TH

{LEAD} After seven innings Tuesday night, it appeared the Norfolk Tides had taken advantage of an opportunity to climb out of last place in the International League West.

But in the end, the Tides wasted that chance, plus a magnificent night at the plate.

{REST} The Columbus Clippers rallied from an 8-5 deficit with three runs in the eighth inning and another in the ninth for a 9-8 victory before 2,237 at Cooper Stadium. With the win, Columbus moved 1 1/2 games ahead of the last-place Tides.

Norfolk blew leads of 2-0 and 4-2 early in the game, but it was the final Columbus rally that must have hurt the most.

``We had the lead three times and each time it evaporated,'' Tides manager Bobby Valentine said. ``It was on of those see-saw games where the teams go back and forth until it's over.

``We thought we had them a couple times, but to their credit, they kept coming back.''

The Clippers loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth when Russ Davis singled, Dave Silvestri doubled and Sam Horn was walked intentionally. Don Sparks singled to center over a drawn-in outfield to bring in pinch runner Rich Barnwell with the game-winner.

Columbus feasted on the Norfolk bullpen. Starter Joe Roa survived the first five innings, allowing eight hits, four walks and five earned runs before exiting with a 6-5 lead.

Eric Gunderson pitched two hitless innings, but Pete Walker and Mike Cook (1-5), who followed Gunderson to the mound, both struggled. The two combined to allow seven hits and four runs in one-plus innings.

Of the Clippers' nine runs, seven were scored with two outs.

``Our pitching's been fine, but we couldn't get the third out tonight,'' Valentine said. ``If I could figure that out, I'd be a genius.''

The Tides' offense looked smart the whole way with 15 hits, eight for extra-bases. Jeromy Burnitz led the way, going 4-for-4 with a home run, two triples and a double. He drove in three runs and scored three times.

``We hit the ball a bunch,'' Valentine said.

It could have been an even bigger night. In the seventh, Burnitz just missed a grand slam when the ball drifted barely foul. On the next pitch, he hit a line drive to center for a sacrifice fly.

``That sacrifice fly, he hit right on the nose,'' Valentine said. ``They had him shaded off to the left or that ball would have gotten through. If that happens, it's a whole different ballgame.''

by CNB