THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, July 2, 1996 TAG: 9607020426
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 63 lines
Richmond Braves pitcher Chad Fox was living up to his last name through six innings, but the Norfolk Tides bats finally cornered the cagey critter in time to register a 3-2 victory Monday night.
Fox, who limited the Tides to just two hits in the first six innings, gave up singles to Benny Agbayani and Roberto Petagine to open the seventh, then plunked Kevin Roberson to load the bases.
Luis Rivera and Alberto Castillo followed with sacrifice flies to rightfield and pinch-hitter Gary Thurman delivered a run-scoring double to the gap in left for a 3-0 lead. ``We were just waiting for somebody to step up,'' Agbayani said ``We don't get paid for overtime ya know.''
The Braves struck for two runs in the eighth - Pablo Martinez reached on an error, Raul Rodarte tripled and Aldo Pecorilli delivered a sacrifice fly to left - but true to Agbayani's words the post-game fireworks display at Harbor Park didn't have to wait for extra innings.
``I felt like I had good stuff in the seventh,'' said Fox, who fell to 3-8. ``But the later you go in a game the more opportunity people have to make adjustments. They made the adjustments they needed to.''
Joe Crawford, who pitched seven scoreless innings, earned the victory, although he was quick to point out that Fox was the more impressive starter through six innings.
``I was battling to keep up with him all night,'' said Crawford, who improved to 2-1. ``Seemed every time I went into the dugout, I was running back out to the mound because he'd pitched a 1-2-3 inning. I didn't get a 1-2-3 of my own until the seventh.''
The Tides, winners of 13 of their last 17, improved to 49-32 and moved to 17 games over .500 for the first time this season, stretching their lead in the International League West Division to 5 1/2 games over Toledo.
``(Fox) had good control tonight,'' Tides manager Bobby Valentine said. ``We were patient, but we weren't aggressive, which is what we needed to be.''
One Tide who was aggressive was Thurman.
``A lot of times when you come in to pinch hit, the pitcher figures you're not ready to hit and tries to blow a fastball by you on the first pitch,'' Thurman said. ``I was looking for it.''
Thurman's contribution didn't stop with the bat. He played center the last two innings as part of a double switch and made a sliding catch of a sinking Juan Williams line drive for the second out of the ninth as Derek Wallace picked up his 16th save of the season.
TIDAL WAVES: The Tides called up utility infielder John Mahalik from Binghamton Monday to fill in for injured second baseman Jason Hardtke (sprained left MCL) on the roster. ILLUSTRATION: MARTIN SMITH-RODDEN
The Virginian-Pilot
Kids will be kids. ... as new Tides player John Mahalik watches the
post-game fireworks at Harbor Park with 8-year-old Patrick McIIvain
following Norfolk's 3-2 victory over Richmond.
TIDES STATS
Compiled by Rich Radford
BOX SCORE
STANDINGS
TEAM STATISTICS
[For a copy of the charts, see microfilm for this date.] by CNB