THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, July 30, 1996 TAG: 9607300450
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 55 lines
The box score will report that Derek Wallace earned the save and Rick Trlicek the victory Monday night as the Norfolk Tides defeated the Ottawa Lynx 2-1.
But those in the crowd of 5,864 at Harbor Park who were scoring in less technical terms gave both to Shawn Gilbert.
The Tides second baseman snagged a sharp grounder to his left to start a game-saving double play in the top of the eighth, then delivered the game-winning hit in the bottom half of the inning, a one-out double down the leftfield line to score Alberto Castillo from second.
The Lynx had runners at the corners with one out in the eighth and Tony Barron coming to the plate when the Tides turned to Trlicek out of the bullpen.
Gilbert got a late jump on the ball, but whirled to throw to shortstop Luis Rivera, who relayed to first.
``We hadn't been playing with a lot of enthusiasm lately,'' Gilbert said. ``But when I came into the dugout after the double play, there were a lot of high-fives and we were pretty excited.''
The victory moved the Tides (60-46) within a 1/2-game of Columbus in the International League West Division and kept Norfolk from being swept in a series for the first time this season.
The Tides were 6-11 since the All-Star break coming into Monday's game and had fallen out of first place the night before for the first time in almost three months.
They could have climbed back into a tie for first place if Columbus had lost, but rain postponed the Clippers' game with Toledo.
Wallace also picked up his 21st save, a team record, after blowing a save opportunity two nights ago.
``It was nice to be able to get back out there quickly and get a chance to redeem myself,'' said Wallace, who retired the side in the ninth, including getting two on strikeouts.
Wallace surpassed the Tides' single-season saves mark set by Wes Gardner in 1984.
Norfolk got on the board with the help of some shoddy fielding by the Lynx.
Terrell Lowery led off the fifth with a single to right. When Luis Rivera hit a chopper to third on a hit-and-run, Scott Coolbaugh's throw to second was late and Francisco Matos' relay to first sailed into the Tides dugout, allowing Lowery to score.
But the Tides had returned the favor in the seventh. Rick Schu doubled off the fence in right with one out, reached third on a passed ball and scored when starting pitcher Joe Crawford booted Coolbaugh's swinging bunt down the first base line that would have been the inning's third out.
Norfolk hits the road today to begin a seven-day, nine-game road trip. They don't return to Harbor Park until Aug. 6, when they face the Richmond Braves. But they're happy to leave town on this note.
``We needed something to pick us up,'' Gilbert said. ``Maybe this is it.'' by CNB