THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 10, 1996 TAG: 9605100651
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 35 lines
The game's not the thing when the New York Mets roll into town for this annual exhibition.
That was evident as Tim Bogar played eight positions for the Mets, the re-entry rule was in effect and the host Norfolk Tides used a designated hitter while the Mets didn't, but also didn't let their pitchers hit.
So much for the rules. There was a winner, however. Two actually. Butch Huskey won the pre-game home run contest, mashing five opposite-field shots in his 10 swings.
As for the game, the Tides scored three times in the fourth and used five different pitchers to shut out the Mets, 3-0, before 6,927. It was the third win in four tries for the Tides since moving to Harbor Park.
Kevin Morgan started off the fourth with a triple to the gap in left and Alex Ochoa and Luis Rivera hit RBI singles. Chris Howard finished the scoring with a sacrifice fly to center off Juan Acevedo, who switched jerseys for the night and pitched four innings for the Mets.
Joe Crawford, up from Double-A Binghamton for the evening, combined with Tides pitchers Pat Ahearne, Jason Bullard, Pedro Martinez and Mark Lee to shut out the Mets on two hits.
SYRACUSE-TIDES TONIGHT
Tonight at Harbor Park the Tides open a four-game series with Syracuse. Game times are 7:15 p.m. except for Sunday's 1:15 start. by CNB