THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, September 2, 1996 TAG: 9609020157
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: 66 lines
Ever since the Norfolk Tides' playoff fate was sealed Friday night, they've taken a feel-good approach to their final games of the regular season.
There's been a lot to feel good about.
The Tides won their third straight and their 10th in 13 games Sunday afternoon, beating Richmond 4-1 at The Diamond.
Keeping sharp for next week's playoff date with West Division regular-season champion Columbus, Norfolk rapped out 11 hits and four Tides pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts, limiting the Braves to five hits.
``I've been with too many clubs that decide they'll get it going again when the playoffs start, but I haven't seen many who could do that,'' Tides manager Bruce Benedict said. ``You want to give guys a day off to catch their breath, which we did today with (third baseman) Shawn Gilbert.
``And with the pitching staff, you want them rested, but with work. It's a fine line, but you try to get everybody feeling good going into the playoffs.''
The Tides immediately jumped on Richmond pitcher Brad Woodall, just sent down following Atlanta's acquisition of Pittsburgh lefthander Denny Neagle. Gary Thurman doubled to start the game and took third when Richmond centerfielder Juan Williams booted the ball in the gap in left. Joel Chimelis followed with a RBI single. and Matt Franco doubled to the gap in right, but Chimelis was cut down trying to score.
Franco's double upped his season total to an International League-best 39, two shy of Mark Carreon's Tides season record set in 1987. He also finished the day 4 for 4, upping his average to .321. While he can't catch IL leader Billy McMillon (.352), Franco could finish second in the batting race with a strong final game tonight when the Tides host Richmond at Harbor Park.
``It's only natural to want to keep it rolling,'' Franco said. ``If you slow down in the last couple games, then it's tough to get it going again.''
The Tides host Columbus Wednesday and Thursday to start a best-of-five playoff series.
Mike Fyhrie, who will start Game 3 against Columbus, was on a pitch count Sunday. He went two innings, giving up two hits and striking out three. He didn't allow Richmond a run in 25 innings this season.
Although Fyhrie did not pitch long enough to get a decision, he finishes the year atop the IL in victories (15) and earned run average (3.04), becoming the first to lead both categories since Dennis Martinez did so with Rochester in 1976.
``It's good to be in company like that,'' Fyhrie said.
Fyhrie is only the second pitcher to win the earned run average title with above a 3.00. Charleston's Tom Brennan won it in 1983 at 3.31.
Norfolk added a run in the third when Thurman, Chimelis and Franco strung together one-out singles.
The Braves struck for a run in the fourth when Raul Rodarte led off with a single, moved to third on Juan Williams' single and scored on Robert Smith's sacrifice fly.
In the fifth, Thurman walked and stole second, then scored on Franco's single. Norfolk upped the lead to 4-1 in the eighth when Franco singled and Benny Agbayani drove him home with his ninth triple of the season, to the gap in right.
Meanwhile, the Tides bullpen was finishing the day's work. Bob MacDonald went three innings to get the victory and Bryan Rogers and Mike Welch each turned in scoreless stints. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
The Tides are in
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