THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 15, 1996 TAG: 9605160592
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
If the walk-before-you-run theory was in effect, Juan Acevedo took a solid first step Tuesday night at Harbor Park.
After failing to go more than five innings in his previous five starts for the Norfolk Tides, Acevedo pitched seven solid innings, limiting the Toledo Mud Hens to five hits to earn his first victory.
Acevedo gave up two runs in the second inning and that was all as the Tides won 3-2.
``Even after the two runs, I felt comfortable,'' said Acevedo who is 1-2 and lowered his earned run average out of double digits to 8.39. ``They didn't hit me that hard in the second. They got a bloop single and we couldn't turn a double play. Stuff like that happens.''
When it happened before, it often had a snowball effect. In fact in Acevedo's previous start he'd failed to escape the first inning, giving up seven runs at Columbus. The Tides bailed him out in that one, rallying for a 9-7 victory.
Tuesday night, it would have been a shame had the Tides not given him just one-third of that kind of run support.
``We would have felt bad if we hadn't gotten him enough runs to win tonight,'' said Alex Ochoa, who went 3 for 4 and drove home what would be the game's winning run. ``He'll probably come off this one feeling much more confident.''
With the victory, the Tides (18-17) remained in first place in the International League West, one game in front of Columbus.
Norfolk closes out this homestand with a business persons' special today at 12:15 p.m. Mike Fyhrie (3-2, 2.06) will pitch for the Tides against Toledo's Randy Marshall (2-2, 4.46).
The Tides scored all three runs in the third after No. 8 and No. 9 hitters - Alberto Castillo and Gary Thurman - walked to open the inning. After Andy Tomberlin's bunt failed to advance the runners, Shawn Gilbert, Matt Franco and Ochoa followed with run-scoring singles for a 3-2 lead.
The Mud Hens' runs came when Tony Clark singled to center, Raul Casanova singled to left and Micah Franklin hit a bloop single to center to score Clark. Fausto Cruz grounded to short to score Casanova, but Acevedo escaped the inning without further damage.
The Tides' defense helped Acevedo most of the evening, particularly in the fourth. After Acevedo hit Casanova on an 0-2 pitch to open the fourth and Franklin walked, Fausto Cruz flew out to center to advance Casanova to third. But Acevedo coaxed Tim Hyers into grounding to short to start a double play that ended the threat.
The emotional lift in the fourth inning helped Acevedo as he struck out the side in the fifth. After an infield single by Phil Hiatt to start the sixth, Acevedo retired the last five Mud Hens he faced. Derek Wallace came on and retired six straight Mud Hens for his second save.
``This is something we can definitely build on,'' Tides manager Bobby Valentine said. ``Juan threw the ball exceptionally well. He never really got going in any of his other starts. This time he had a lead he could work with.''
It was also Acevedo's first start as a full-fledged Tide. Previously, Acevedo had been pitching for the Tides while on a 30-day major league rehabilitation stint after straining a hamstring in the New York Mets' spring training camp. That rehab stint ended Friday and he was officially optioned to Norfolk.
``In that fifth inning I got my second wind,'' Acevedo said. ``I hadn't gotten there in any of my other starts. I felt real good after that.'' MEMO: Boxscore, standings/C4
by CNB