THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, April 22, 1996 TAG: 9604220142
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM LEO, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: SYRACUSE, N.Y. LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
Matt Franco's double in the top of the seventh inning was fairly routine, and it did lead to the winning run in Norfolk's 4-3 International League victory over Syracuse in the second game of Sunday's doubleheader at MacArthur Stadium.
Helping your team win a game always is a good situation for a player. It had extra meaning for Franco, whose two-out throwing error from third base in the first game led to two unearned runs that helped Syracuse win the first game, 3-2.
``I do feel a lot better,'' Franco said. ``After the first game, some of the guys were trying to make me feel better. But it's hard to forget one play that loses the game. It was an easy play. I had the ball. There was no reason to make that error, and it really did cost us the game.
``That's why it feels good to have a part in winning the second game.''
The game was tied 3-3 when Franco led off the seventh against Syracuse starter and loser Huck Flener (1-1) who had allowed only two previous hits. IL games that are part of doubleheaders are scheduled for seven innings.
One of the hits off Flener was Luis Rivera's three-run homer to leftfield in the top of the second inning.
Franco's double was well placed down the rightfield line. He advanced to third on Rivera's sacrifice bunt and scored on pinch-hitter's Roberto Petagine's infield out. Petagine hit a hard one-hopper at Chiefs first baseman Jamie Dismuke. The ball bounced off Dismuke and rolled behind him. Second baseman Brian Turang picked up the ball and outraced Petagine to first for the out as the run scored.
The run made a winner out of Tides reliever Derek Wallace, who improved his record to 3-0 after two innings of scoreless relief. Juan Acevedo, who came to the New York Mets organization from Colorado in the deal that sent pitcher Bret Saberhagen to the Rockies, pitched the first five innings. Acevedo allowed nine hits and all three runs, with two walks and two strikeouts.
Syracuse scored two runs in the first on five hits, including RBI singles from Wes Chamberlain and Randy Knorr. It would have been a bigger inning if Chamberlain hadn't been picked off second base.
Chamberlain homered off Acevedo in the fourth for Syracuse's third run.
The Chiefs won the opener 3-2 in a game that didn't feature much offense. The teams combined for only 11 hits. Both Norfolk runs scored while Syracuse turned double plays.
The loss ended a three-game winning streak for the Tides, and snapped a two-game losing streak for the Chiefs.
The winning pitcher for Syracuse was righthander Marty Janzen (2-1). He allowed five hits and one earned run in 5 2/3 innings.
Reliever Dane Johnson came in and struck out Jay Payton with runners on first and third in the sixth. Rivera led off the top of the seventh with a double off the leftfield fence. But pinch-hitter Shawn Gilbert failed to execute the sacrifice bunt. He got the ball down, but too close to Syracuse catcher Rich Rowland, who threw out Rivera at third. Pinch-hitter Trey McCoy then bounced into a game-ending double play, Syracuse's third of the game, as Johnson earned his third save.
The losing pitcher for the Tides was Rick Reed, who allowed five hits and one earned run in six innings. by CNB