THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 22, 1996 TAG: 9605220476
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 52 lines
Gary Thurman figures the last time he hit in the cleanup spot was when he was with the Kansas City Royals a few years ago. And he didn't start the game there.
``Probably I came in for defensive purposes for Danny Tartabull or something like that and ended up getting an at-bat,'' said Thurman, the Norfolk Tides' speedy centerfielder.
Nonetheless, he hit the ball like a power guy in the bottom of the eighth, leading off with a shot into the picnic area beyond leftfield that ignited a three-run inning and led to the Tides' 8-6 victory over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Tuesday night at Harbor Park.
With the game tied, Thurman drilled a delivery from Red Barons reliever Ricardo Jordan. The Tides ended up sending nine men to the plate, with pinch-hitter Benny Agbayani coming through with a bases-loaded, two-out, two-run single for Norfolk's last two runs.
Mark Lee pitched the eighth to earn the victory and Derek Wallace came on to record his fifth save of the season, but not before Ricky Otero's triple and an infield single by Kevin Sefcik made things interesting.
Norfolk improved to 22-20 and maintained its lead in the International League West Division. Scranton fell to 22-20.
The Tides struck for three runs in the first, a two-run triple by Alex Ochoa being the biggest blow.
Andy Tomberlin's one-out home run into the visitors bullpen in the second upped the advantage to 4-0.
Scranton scratched out a run in the fourth when Sefcik drew a leadoff walk, moved to third on Ruben Amaro's hit and scored an out later on Bob Zupcic's fly ball to center.
Pedro Martinez, the Tides' emergency starter, was lifted in the fifth in favor of Rick Trlicek, who was rudely welcomed with four consecutive singles by the Red Barons in a three-run inning.
The Tides regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth on a double down the first-base line by Jason Hardtke - who was 3 for 4 with an RBI - and a run-scoring single by Alberto Castillo.
Scranton evened it at 5-5 when Ricky Otero drew a leadoff walk in the seventh, moved up on a sacrifice bunt and a fly ball, then scored when Zupcic drilled a line drive off pitcher Joe Ausanio's leg for an infield single.
Thurman came in for Ochoa, who experienced tightness in one of his hamstrings in a failed steal attempt in the third inning.
Thurman's home run was his first of the season.
``I'm a little guy, but I knew I'd gotten ahold of that one,'' Thurman said. ``There was no doubt.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by RICHARD L. DUNSTON, The Virginian-Pilot
Alberto Castillo of Norfolk fouls off an attempted bunt, but the
Tides still rallied to win Tuesday night at Harbor Park. by CNB