THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 26, 1996 TAG: 9604260648
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
For the fourth time in as many games, the Norfolk Tides stranded 10 or more runners Thursday night. For the third time, it cost them.
Unable to deliver the timely hits, the Tides fell to the Charlotte Knights 3-1 at Harbor Park and fell a game behind the Knights in the International League West Division standings.
``We get it going in an inning, get two singles, or a walk and a single, but we can't piece it all together,'' said third baseman Matt Franco. ``That kind of thing starts to snowball and people start pressing out of frustration. We've just got to get back to doing what we'd been doing well.''
The Tides (11-8) had Charlotte's pitching staff working from the stretch most of the night and loaded the bases in the seventh against Charlotte starter Antonio Alfonseca.
But pinch-hitter Shawn Gilbert struck out on a full count check swing and Kevin Flora flew out to shallow right - with Charlotte rightfielder Shane Halter making a diving catch - to end the threat.
Alfonseca had come in with a team-best earned run average of 1.64 and Charlotte manager Sal Rende said afterward he didn't give a thought to turning to the bullpen, even after the Tides loaded the bases.
``He seemed the right guy to get us out of that,'' Rende said. ``He's got the best stuff on the staff.''
Again in the eighth and ninth innings, the Tides put two runners on, but came up empty against Charlotte relievers Dan Chergey and Miguel Batista.
``We're just fouling off the pitches we can hit,'' Tides manager Bobby Valentine said. ``It's a long season and it happens. Sometimes the hits fall in, sometimes it's tough to get them.''
The Knights (10-5) scored in the fourth when Russ Morman walked, then went from first to third on Tommy Gregg's bloop single to center. When centerfielder Gary Thurman's throw to third eluded Franco and skipped into the Charlotte dugout, Morman trotted home.
The Tides evened matters at 1-1 by stringing together singles by Thurman, Franco and Alex Ochoa to start the bottom of the fourth.
Due to a doubleheader in Syracuse Sunday, the Tides had to scramble for a starting pitcher, turning to Joe Crawford. Although he'd only pitched three innings in the Tides' previous 18 games, Crawford delivered five solid innings, the only run he gave up being unearned.
Rick Trlicek came on in relief of Crawford in the sixth and gave up a one-out single to Jerry Brooks, who then stole second. Brooks moved up on Tommy Gregg's single to right an out later and Trlicek gave way to reliever Mark Lee.
Darrell Whitmore then delivered a two-run double to the gap in left. ILLUSTRATION: CHRISTOPHER REDDICK/The Virginian-Pilot
Charlotte rightfielder Shane Halter slides in an unsuccessful
attempt to catch a foul ball as first baseman Russ Morman leaps to
avoid contact. The Tides lost three of four to the Knights.
by CNB