THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 27, 1995 TAG: 9508270066
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: PAUL SOKOLOSKI, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: MOOSIC, PA. LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
With a dramatic swing, Gene Schall spoiled a game and may have saved a season Saturday night.
While Schall was ruining a masterpiece Norfolk pitcher Robert Person had spent seven innings putting together, he was keeping Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the playoff chase.
Schall's three-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning off reliever Bryan Rogers lifted Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to a 4-3 victory over Norfolk.
And Red Barons closer Chuck Ricci tied a team record with his 22nd save when he put Norfolk down in order in the ninth.
``You get a little pumped up with the adrenalin rush,'' the usually emotionless Schall said after his game-winner, ``We had a good crowd there, it was the second-to-last home game, it was nice.
``But you still try to take it in stride.''
Ricci certainly didn't change demeanor. The righthander, who was released by the New York Mets last season, picked up his first save since Aug. 7 to join Jay Baller in the Red Baron record books.
``I blew the last one (save opportunity) I had,'' Ricci said. ``We've either been losing, or winning big.''
But this one came in a tight game and in a tight race.
The Red Barons crawled within 1 1/2 games of second place and a playoff spot in the International League East. They are now two games behind Ottawa, which took over first place in the East from Pawtucket Saturday.
``It's nice to get a save like that,'' Ricci said. ``It happened so quick. But these are the games we're going to have to win if we're going to stay in this thing.''
Of course, Norfolk doesn't have to worry about such pressure. The Tides wrapped up the Western Division title earlier this week and still own the league's best record at 81-54.
Schall kept the Red Barons in the postseason chase with a monstrous three-run home run over the rightfield wall. The blow followed a single by Jim Vatcher and a walk to Shawn Gilbert, and overcame Norfolk's 3-1 lead.
``My job on this team is to drive in runs,'' said Schall, who is second among Red Barons with 59 RBIs. ``But you don't try to change your approach. You can't go up there with no one on base and hit a three-run homer.''
Schall's shot made a winner of Red Barons reliever Eric Hill and spoiled Person's game.
But after mastering the Red Barons by allowing just four hits and fanning six hitters through seven innings, Person allowed the first two men to reach base in the eighth.
That brought on reliever Bryan Rogers, who retired the next two hitters before Schall's towering drive brought the Red Barons victory.
``Maybe this will give us a little lift for the next couple days,'' Schall said.
It certainly raised spirits Saturday.
``I think it was the biggest hit of the season so far,'' Ricci said. ``Let's hope we can build on it and string a few of 'em together.'' by CNB