THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 4, 1996 TAG: 9608040245
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LOUIS DAIGNAULTS, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: OTTAWA LENGTH: 41 lines
A couple of pitchers with relief backgrounds provided solid starts for the Norfolk Tides as they swept Saturday's excruciating long twin bill against the Ottawa Lynx 5-0 and 6-5.
The wins pulled the Tides (65-48) to within one game of Columbus in the IL West after the Clippers defeated Richmond on Saturday night.
In the first game, Joe Crawford handcuffed the Lynx with a complete-game three hitter and contributed offensively, pounding out three of the Tides 10 hits in the seven-inning contest.
Crawford (4-3), a career minor-league reliever in his first season as a starter, allowed all three hits in the first two innings. He didn't allow a walk and struck out one.
``When I pitch well, I like the starting role,'' said Crawford, 26. ``The change has been a big adjustment for me. This was certainly one of my best games ever as a starter and at this stage of the season every game's crucial. I used my fastball a lot at the start, then relied a lot on my changeup.''
At the plate Crawford was equally impressive with a bloop single in the second, a solid RBI double to highlight a five-run third and another single in the sixth.
In the third, the Tides chased Lynx starter Rodney Henderson (3-9). Shawn Gilbert walked, Matt Franco singled and Benny Agbayani also singled to score Gilbert.
In the second seven-inning game, which lasted two hours and 36 minutes and featured 13 hits by both teams, Norfolk scored one run in each of the first six innings and led 6-2 heading into the seventh before the Lynx staged a late rally.
Ottawa starter Denis Boucher was victimized for 12 hits, including four solo home runs.
Alberto Castillo led the Tides' offensive charge with his his seventh and eighth homers while Matt Franco and Terrell Lowery added one round-tripper apiece, the fourth of the season for each.
Pedro Martinez pitched 4 2/3 innings for the Tides, allowing two runs on nine hits. Bob MacDonald (3-1) relieved Martinez and was credited for his second victory in two days. by CNB