THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 8, 1996 TAG: 9605080602
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines
When Joe Crawford was sent to the Double-A Binghamton Mets last week, he viewed it as an opportunity, not a demotion.
With Bill Pulsipher shelved for the season with arm troubles, neither the New York Mets nor their Triple-A affiliate Norfolk Tides have a lefthanded starter in their rotations.
Crawford, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound lefthander, has been used primarily as a relief pitcher in his five-plus years in the Mets' minor-league organization, compiling an impressive 2.28 earned run average.
But after five effective innings in a spot start for the Tides two weeks ago, giving up one unearned run, Mets brass wanted to see what Crawford could do as a regular starter.
So what did Crawford, who turned 26 a week ago, do with the opportunity?
He pitched a no-hitter.
In a seven-inning game Sunday - the second half of a doubleheader against the Trenton Thunder - Crawford struck out four and walked four in a 1-0 victory. It was Binghamton's first no-hitter since Pulsipher's in the 1994 Eastern League playoffs.
Tides manager Bobby Valentine and pitching coach Bob Apodaca ``made a good decision in giving Joe a spot start (in Norfolk),'' said Mets director of minor league operations Jack Zduriencik. ``It was their suggestion to give him a look-see as a starter.''
Besides, Crawford in a Tides uniform meant four lefthanders in the bullpen - Pedro Martinez, Mark Lee and Brian Bark are the others. Someone wasn't going to get enough innings unless a move was made.
The seven innings were two more than Crawford, also a reliever at Kent University, had pitched as a pro.
``I wasn't sure how long they'd stay with me,'' said Crawford, who effectively mixed a cutting fastball, change-up and slider. ``It wasn't until we scored in the fifth inning that I started thinking about (the no-hitter). I thought, `If I can get two quick innings, I've got a chance.' ''
Trenton had scored 18 runs in their previous two games against Binghamton and was tied for the Eastern League lead in runs scored.
``He's got three major-league pitches,'' said Trenton manager Ken Macha. ``I don't know why he's in this league.''
It was only Crawford's fifth start in 182 appearances as a pro.
``Joe had more success in the past in the bullpen,'' Zduriencik said. ``But he's more mature now and pitched winter ball in the offseason. It's too soon to get carried away with it. We're obviously very pleased, but we'll take a wait-and-see approach.''
A BIG SALUTE: The Tides will hold their first Military Appreciation Night Saturday at Harbor Park and they hope to make it an annual affair.
``With the military being such and integral part of the area, we felt it was important to recognize them as part of a special night,'' Tides president Ken Young said.
The addition of Dave Harrah, a retired Naval officer, to the Tides' staff in the offseason has made it easier for the franchise to line up many of the night's military activities. Harrah is in charge of group sales for the Tides.
Among the festivities will be a flyover by a Navy F-14 Tomcat and parachuting by a five-member Navy Skydive team. Two different military bands will provide entertainment and Admiral William J. Flanagan Jr., commander-in-chief of the Atlantic Fleet, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
The Tides will also honor the sailor, soldier and airman of the year and all active duty, reserves, retirees and their families can purchase reserved seating for Saturday's game for $4.50 with valid government ID.
CYBERSPACE: The Norfolk Tides' site on the World Wide Web (http://www.pilotonline.com/tides or http://www.norfolktides.com) has been dubbed ``Site of the week'' by John Skilton's Baseball Links, a catalog of approximately 1,100 baseball-related web sites. The Tides' site includes brief player profiles, updated daily statistics, the Tides' schedule and archived Tides stories that have run in The Virginian-Pilot, as well as other features.
TONIGHT'S PITCHERS: The Tides visit Richmond tonight at 7 p.m. at The Diamond. Righthander Rick Reed (1-2, 2.89) is scheduled to pitch for the Tides against Braves righthander Chad Fox (0-3, 5.25). ILLUSTRATION: Joe Crawford struck out four and walked four in a seven-inning
1-0 victory for Binghamton.
STANDINGS
TEAM STATISTICS
[For a copy of the charts, see microfilm for this date.]
by CNB