THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, June 25, 1996 TAG: 9606250384
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM LEO, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: SYRACUSE, N.Y. LENGTH: 58 lines
Finally, the Norfolk Tides got pitcher Rick Reed some runs.
Reed came into Monday's game against Syracuse with a 1-1 record in four June starts, despite a 0.93 earned run average. He had allowed only three earned runs in his last 29 innings.
So, when the Tides tallied two first inning runs on John Hardtke's two-out home run to rightfield, then put six more on the scoreboard for an 8-1 International League victory, Reed was more than satisfied.
The win improved Norfolk's record to 44-30. Syracuse fell to 36-35, but stayed 3 1/2 games behind first-place Pawtucket in the IL East standings. The Pawsox lost, 4-2, at Toledo. The Mud Hens trail first-place Norfolk by 5 1/2 games in the IL West.
Reed improved his record to 4-6, which hardly justifies the way he's pitched this season. He allowed one earned run and five hits in eight innings against Syracuse. He struck out five and walked one while lowering his ERA to 3.06, which is sixth best in the IL.
During one stretch between the third and eighth innings, Reed retired 14 consecutive batters. It also marked the first time Reed has defeated Syracuse in four career decisions.
``It's a lot different when you get eight runs to work with,'' Reed said. ``It was good to get the offense.
``It seems like when you do get the run support, everything falls together and you start making good pitches.''
Norfolk manager Bobby Valentine says Reed, who's pitched in the big leagues for Pittsburgh and the Tides' parent club, the New York Mets, has been as good a pitcher as he's had all season. That's saying something considering tonight's starter, Mike Gardiner, is 7-1 with an IL-best 1.46 ERA. Gardiner is scheduled to start at 7 tonight against Syracuse righthander Derek Brandow (2-2, 4.61) in the second game of the scheduled three-game series.
``For whatever reason, we haven't got Rick many runs,'' Valentine said, ``but tonight we got him a bunch and he knew what to do with them when he got them.''
Hardtke's homer in the first, his third of the season, was ``as big as we've had,'' Valentine said. It followed a two-out single by Matt Franco.
Syracuse got a run back in the bottom of the first when Shannon Stewart singled, stole second and advanced to third on catcher Alberto Castillo's throwing error. He scored on a sacrifice fly by Felipe Crespo.
That was it for the Syracuse offense. Joe Ausanio pitched a scoreless ninth in relief of Reed.
The Tides collected 10 hits, six in 4 1/3 innings off Syracuse starter and loser Giovanni Carrara, who defeated Reed, 3-0, last week in Norfolk.
The Tides added two runs in the fifth when Benny Agbayani doubled, took third on a wild pitch and scored on Castillo's foul sacrifice fly. Gary Thurman then doubled and later scored on Franco's single to make it 4-1.
Back-to-back doubles by Agbayani and Castillo added another run in the sixth. Castillo hit a two-out solo homer in the ninth.
ACEVEDO HONORED: Tides pitcher Juan Acevedo was chosen the International League player of the week. Acevedo, a righthanded starter, shut out Syracuse on June 18, striking out five in his first complete game this season. Acevedo is 3-5 this season with a 5.84 ERA. by CNB