THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 6, 1994 TAG: 9407060580
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KIMBALL CROSSLEY, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: PAWTUCKET LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
Doug Dascenzo and Jeromy Burnitz each drove in two runs in a five-run eighth inning Tuesday as the Norfolk Tides rallied for a 9-5 victory over the Pawtucket Red Sox.
With Pawtucket ahead, 5-4, the Tides rallied for five runs off Scott Bankhead (0-1), including a key two-run single by Dascenzo and a two-run triple by Burnitz off reliever Mike Raczka.
Bankhead, on rehabilitation from Boston, pitched a third of an inning and was charged with five runs on three hits.
Pawtucket had rallied for three runs in the seventh on a two-run home run by Eric Wedge and a run-scoring double by Greg Litton. Glen Murray and Litton each hit home runs in the second inning off starter Eric Hillman.
For the Tides, Tito Navarro had three hits while Dascenzo and Eric Ledesman each had a pair.
Pete Walker (1-2) picked up the win. He allowed four hits in two and two-thirds innings.
``He believes in himself at this level now,'' said Norfolk pitching coach Bob Apodaca of Walker.
Tides manager Bobby Valentine thought it was a shame Hillman came away without a decision in a game in which he pitched so efficiently. The lefthander was perfect through six innings, other than the back-to-back home runs.
He had a 4-2 lead going into the seventh and had thrown but 64 pitches, getting 13 groundball outs and going to three balls on a hitter just once.
But after getting the first out of the inning, Hillman allowed a bloop single to Luis Ortiz and then a towering two-run home run to Wedge which tied the score, 4-4.
``I'm definitely frustrated,'' said Hillman. ``I didn't get away with any of my mistakes.''
``He threw three bad pitches and they were all home runs,'' said Apodaca.
The one which bothered Hillman the most was the 3-1 fastball he left up to Wedge. When Wedge hit the high blast down the leftfield line, Hillman thought for sure it would go foul.
``But it was hit so high the wind blew it back fair,'' he said.
Norfolk had scored its first four runs in the top of the second, taking advantage of two Pawtucket errors, two walks by starter Greg Brummett and a two-run double by Ledesma.
NOTES: The New York Mets returned outfielder Shawn Hare to the Tides after Monday's game. Hare batted .182 (4-for-22) during his latest stay with the Mets, which began June 14. Overall, he has batted .225 in 21 games. Catcher Brandon Smith was sent to the Pittsfield, Mass. rookie team to make room for Hare. ... Tides pitcher Kevin Morton (3-7, 3.99) gets the start against Pawtucket's Glenn Carter (5-1, 3.42). ... The series concludes Thursday night with Frank Seminara (1-3, 3.91) scheduled to face Dan Gakeler (0-0, 4.97). ... The Tides were outscored, 21-5, during their four-game losing streak. by CNB