THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, June 19, 1996 TAG: 9606190545
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 69 lines
Juan Acevedo sightings had become as regular and mysterious in the last two months as Bigfoot sightings were in the 1970s.
Harbor Park fans and coaching staff alike would get the occasional glimpse and talk about how impressive the beast was. Then he'd disappear into the woodwork.
Tuesday night, Big Juan's fastball came out of hiding and showed everybody why the New York Mets thought enough of it to trade former Cy Young winner Bret Saberhagen to the Colorado Rockies last summer for Acevedo's services.
Acevedo handcuffed the Syracuse Chiefs, limiting them to three hits, to throw his first complete game since 1994 as the Tides won 5-0.
The Tides, 40-28 and 12 games over .500 for the first time this season, close out this six-game homestand with a businessperson's special at 12:15 p.m. today.
Acevedo threw 136 pitches and closed the evening by striking out Felix Jose on a fastball on the outside corner, his fifth strikeout of the night.
``Once I got through the sixth, I felt I could go all the way,'' said Acevedo, who improved to 3-5 and lowered his earned run average almost a full run to 5.82. ``That's the me of old. I knew I had it in me. It was just a matter of getting it to come out.''
Acevedo entered the sixth with a 4-0 lead, but walked Felipe Crespo with one out. Some spectacular glove work from third baseman Matt Franco allowed Acevedo to escape the inning unscathed.
Franco dove to his left to stop a sharp grounder by Rich Rowland and erase Crespo at second. He practically repeated the play on a hard one-hopper by Tilson Brito and his throw to first beat Brito by a half-step.
``Juan used his fastball so much more tonight,'' Franco said. ``Lately it seems he's been so concerned with his off-speed pitch and he's been throwing it so much and getting behind 2-0 or 3-1. At this level when you're behind, it doesn't matter if you throw 110 miles per hour, you're going to get hit. Tonight, he was working with a lot of 0-2, 1-2 and 2-2 counts.''
Acevedo got all the runs he'd need in the third.
Franco's team-leading 19th double of the season was followed by an Alex Ochoa single to right. Roberto Petagine, making his first appearance since being optioned down from New York, then drilled a two-run double to the gap in right.
Benny Agbayani singled to left to move Petagine to third and Brian Daubach grounded out to second on a hit-and-run that plated Petagine for a 3-0 lead.
Norfolk struck again when Jason Hardtke doubled down the leftfield line and Franco drove him in with a single to right in the fourth.
Agbayani homered in the eighth for the Tides' final run.
``(Acevedo) worked ahead a lot and when pitchers do that it limits your offensive capabilities,'' said Syracuse leadoff man Scott Pose. ``I tip my hat to him tonight.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]
LAWRENCE JACKSON
The Virginian-Pilot
Syracuse pitcher Jose Pett gets a little encouragement from catcher
Rich Rowland. He gave up 10 hits in four innings as the Tides rolled
to a 5-0 victory.
LAWRENCE JACKSON
The Virginian-Pilot
OUCH! Syracuse Chiefs first baseman John Ramos flips over the rail
in front of the Tides' dugout attempting to catch a popup.
BOX SCORE
STANDINGS
TEAM STATISTICS
[For a copy of the charts, see microfilm for this date.] by CNB