THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 15, 1996 TAG: 9608150561
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 71 lines
Bad blood that has arisen between the Norfolk Tides and Richmond Braves showed itself Wednesday night as the Tides fell 4-2 at Harbor Park.
The Tides, who trail Columbus in the International League West by 3 1/2 games, knew they were facing an agitator in Braves pitcher Chris Brock. Shortstop Robert Smith's antics, however, surprised them.
After Tides pinch-runner Kevin Flora slid hard into second base attempting to break up a game-ending double play, Smith took exception.
The benches emptied, but without incident. That is, unless league president Randy Mobley thinks otherwise.
Crew chief Pete Celestino said he would file a report with the league office informing Mobley of the activity.
``It's up to the league president,'' Celestino said. ``I'm going to call him and let him do what he has to do.
``But one of the things I'll relay to him is that it was the end of the game, people were coming out to congratulate teammates and people were coming in from both bullpens.''
If it is decided that anyone left the bench for other reasons, it's an automatic $300 fine for all involved. Suspensions are left to the discretion of the league.
``I just thought he tried to hurt me,'' Smith said. ``That isn't how you play the game. He came up real high with his spikes.''
Said Flora: ``I didn't do anything.''
Smith was moved from third base to shortstop less than a month ago in hopes of opening a better avenue to the major leagues.
Tides manager Bobby Valentine said Smith's inexperience there showed.
``If he doesn't like contact, he should go to the outfield,'' Valentine said.
The Tides' distaste for Brock, however, wasn't overshadowed.
Brock, who has beaten them in three straight starts, this time went six innings with the Tides' only runs coming on a two-run home run by Jason Hardtke in the second inning.
On July 3, Brock was the winning pitcher in an 11-4 victory. In that game, he hit Tides batter Matt Franco with a pitch and later had to dodge two offerings from Tides pitcher Juan Acevedo, one over his head and the other behind him.
He also beat the Tides six days ago in Richmond.
When Tides pitcher Joe Crawford hit Brock with his first pitch with two out in the third on Wednesday, Brock wasn't surprised.
``He shook off three signs,'' Brock said. ``I knew I was going to get hit. If they keep throwing at me and I keep winning, I'll take it.''
The Braves scored twice in the fourth when Steve Pegues singled, Aldo Pecorilli doubled, Crawford balked to allow a run and Omar Garcia chopped a grounder to the back of the mound to score the other run when Crawford was unable to throw home.
Garcia homered in the seventh for a 3-2 lead and the Braves added an insurance run in the eighth when Smith singled, stole second, took third on catcher Alberto Castillo's throw in the dirt and scored on a Pegues single up the middle.
The Tides travel to Richmond tonight for a 7 o'clock game.
``We're rival cities,'' Franco said. ``We're an hour and a half apart and we seem to play each other every other day. It's just one of those underlying things.'' ILLUSTRATION: L. TODD SPENCER
The Tides' Joe Crawford lays down a harmless, fifth-inning bunt.
Norfolk's only runs came in the second.
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