THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 31, 1996 TAG: 9608310714
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C01 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 66 lines
Other than the lopsided out-of-town score that flashed on the Harbor Park scoreboard Friday night, the Norfolk Tides enjoyed a night of positives, beating the Charlotte Knights 6-3 in front of the largest crowd of the season.
The Tides learned their playoff fate when the Columbus Clippers beat the Richmond Braves 15-3. Norfolk (79-59) will host the West Division-champion Clippers (83-56) in the first two games of a five-game West Division playoff series beginning Wednesday.
``We're the two best teams in the league,'' said Tides first baseman Matt Franco. ``No doubt about it. But when the playoffs come around, they're not going to be playing Richmond and winning 15-3.''
The Tides can only hope for as large and enthusiastic a crowd for the playoffs as the 12,124 that showed Friday at Harbor Park.
Franco's two-out home run in the third inning gave the Tides a 3-2 lead they would not relinquish. Franco was 2 for 2 for the game, lifting his season average to .319.
Lefthander Joe Crawford went seven innings, scattering four hits to up his record to 6-5 in his final start of the regular season. Crawford, converted from a reliever to a starter this season, finishes with winning records at two levels. He was 5-1 for Double-A Binghamton.
``Anytime a pitcher has better than a .500 record and is effective, he should feel good about himself,'' Tides manager Bruce Benedict said. ``Crawford has taken the bit and run with it. Now he gets a big start in the playoffs (he's scheduled to start Game 2) and he deserves it.''
Another positive was cleanup hitter Benny Agbayani coming out of an 0-for-16 slump in timely fashion, supplying a two-out, two-run triple in the seventh that capped a three-run rally and gave the Tides a 6-2 lead.
Terrell Lowery's pinch-hit double, Gary Thurman's run-scoring double and an intentional walk to Franco preceded Agbayani's shot over the outstretched glove of Charlotte rightfielder Jerry Brooks.
The Tides also scored twice in the second. Kevin Roberson singled and Joel Chimelis, who rejoined the team following the birth of his second child, doubled off the base of the leftfield wall. Roberson scored when Joe Siddall was charged with a passed ball. After Alberto Castillo walked, Crawford helped his cause by grounding to the right side and staying out of the double play to plate Chimelis.
The Knights scored twice in the third. Quilvio Veras and Brooks reached on singled and moved up on a double steal with one out. After Chris Sheff walked, Lou Lucca drove in a run on a fielder's choice. The second run scored on third baseman Shawn Gilbert's fielding error.
Rick Trlicek pitched the ninth and escaped a bases-loaded jam to pick up his 10th save of the season. He's 5 for 5 in save situations since assuming closer duties following the callup of Derek Wallace to the New York Mets. ILLUSTRATION: Charts
The Tides Are In
Norfolk Tides vs. Richmond Braves
Time: 7:15 p.m.
Radio: WTAR, 790-AM 7 p.m.
Pitchers: RHP Shannon Withem (2-3, 4.95) for the Tides vs. RHP
Kevin Lomon (9-8, 4.33).
Tides Stats
Boxscore
Team Statistics
Standings
Compiled by Rich Radford
For charts, see microfilm by CNB