THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 18, 1996 TAG: 9607180487
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CLYDE HUGHES, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: MAUMEE, OHIO LENGTH: 48 lines
The Norfolk Tides continued their slide down the International League West slope, falling to the Toledo Mud Hens 7-2 last night at Ned Skeldon Stadium.
Norfolk's fourth straight loss, the Tides' longest losing streak this season, cuts their lead over second-place Columbus to two games.
Norfolk has lost six of seven games since the All-Star break. But manager Bobby Valentine said there's no pressure on his team.
``The pressure is on the team two games back,'' Valentine said. ``I'm glad to have a two game lead. Good things will always happen and bad things will always happen.''
What has not happened for the Tides the past two games has been its bullpen. Last night, when Norfolk pulled close, Tides relievers let Toledo off the hook with a four-run seventh inning.
In the last 12 games before Wednesday, Norfolk's pitching staff has a ERA of 4.76. Prior to that, it was 3.37 over 28 games.
The Tides' bats got them back into the game last night. Chris Howard hit a solo home run in the fifth inning and an RBI single in the seventh, cutting an early 3-0 Mud Hens lead to 3-2.
Jeff Tackett led off Toledo's seventh with a single and scored when Glen Barker connected on a triple to left off reliever Bryan Rogers.
Tim Hyers walked before Phil Hiatt, the IL's home run and RBI leader, crushed a three-run homer over the left field fence to blow the game open.
``Phil has been in a slump and it's been a while since we've seen him do that,'' Toledo manager Tom Runnells said. ``It was nice to see that happen. We really didn't get that many hits tonight, but they were timely.''
Pedro Martinez (2-2), in his first appearance since returning to Norfolk, looked sharp early, blanking the Mud Hens over the first three innings. But a defensive lapse helped Toledo get to Martinez in the fourth.
With two outs, Bubba Trammell reached on Roberto Petagine's fielding error at first base on Trammell's grounder.
Martinez added fuel to the fire by walking Eric Wedge before giving up a three-run homer to Steve Rodriguez, giving the Mud Hens a 3-0 lead.
``We made two bad pitches on the two home runs,'' Valentine said. ``But we should have been out of the inning in the fourth before that home run. When things go right, they go right and when things go bad, they go bad.'' ILLUSTRATION: BOX SCORE
STANDINGS
[For a copy of the charts, see microfilm for this date.] by CNB