THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, May 13, 1996 TAG: 9605130125
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
Syracuse Chiefs designated hitter John Ramos said he felt something different in the air when he walked into Harbor Park on Sunday.
What he felt was a wind that had the centerfield flags whipping out toward the Elizabeth River, something that happens here about once every lunar cycle.
The Chiefs used that wind to launch four home runs - one each by Ramos, Rich Rowland, Wes Chamberlin and D.J. Boston in an 11-4 victory over the Norfolk Tides.
``If that wind doesn't blow that much here, I hope it waits until we're back in town to blow again,'' said Ramos, whose two-run homer capped a five-run sixth inning by the Chiefs.
The four-game series concludes tonight at 7:15 with Rick Reed (1-3, 2.98) pitching for the Tides against Syracuse's Huck Flener (4-1, 2.56).
The 11 runs by Syracuse were the most given up this season by the Tides, who fell to 17-16 but are still in first in the International League West Division.
Tides starter Robert Person had control problems throughout his four innings, walking six.
``Bad control,'' Tides manager Bobby Valentine said. ``Even a lot of his outs were on high pitches out of the zone. When they weren't swinging, they were walking. That's a tough way for a pitcher to make a living.''
Person left with the game tied 1-1.
When Jason Bullard relieved in the fifth, the pitches came down. And the homerfest began.
Bullard gave up a two-run shot to Rowland that made it 3-1. After Bullard faced three hitters in the sixth without recording an out, Mark Lee came on in relief and gave up the two-run shot to Ramos.
Joe Ausanio, who came on to pitch the last 1 2/3 innings, surrendered a three-run blast by Chamberlin.
It was Chamberlin's ninth this season, tying him for the International League lead. D.J. Boston led off the ninth inning with another home run.
Down 6-1 after the sixth, the Tides had a chance to make a game of it in the seventh once Syracuse starter Woody Williams, pitching for the Chiefs while on a major league rehabilitation stint, was lifted.
Chiefs reliever Scott Brow retired only one of the five batters he faced, walking two and giving up a run-scoring single to Kevin Flora followed by a run-scoring double to Luis Rivera. Vince Horsman relieved and gave up a run-scoring single to Andy Tomberlin and walked Shawn Gilbert to load the bases.
The Chiefs escaped the inning when Matt Franco grounded into a double play.
``That wind was different,'' Valentine said. ``But they just hit the ball better, had better at-bats and played better.'' MEMO: Boxscore, standings, stats/C4
by CNB