THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 6, 1996 TAG: 9609060694
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 68 lines
Just when it appeared the Norfolk Tides and Columbus Clippers would head north with their best-of-five playoff series deadlocked at one game apiece, the Tides let one slip away Thursday night.
Gary Thurman's double to the gap in right with one out in the bottom of the ninth appeared more than enough to score pinch-runner Kevin Flora from first base with the Tides' winning run. But Flora lost his footing rounding third, fell to the turf and was tagged out by catcher Tim McIntosh after relay throws from rightfielder Shane Spencer and second baseman Tim Barker.
``Right when I hit the (third base) bag my foot slipped off the top corner,'' said Flora, who was running for Alberto Castillo who singled with one out. ``The next step I just continued to lose my balance and I just couldn't stop. It was like the longest thing. It was like falling off a cliff, you're desperately trying to stay on any way you can. It was pretty frustrating.''
Thurman's hero's hat was passed to Columbus' Tracy Woodson, who belted a three-run home-run in the 11th inning as the Clippers won 4-3.
Now the teams fly to Columbus with the Clippers up 2-0 and in possession of a decided home-field advantage.
It was actually the second time the Tides slipped a gear in this one. Norfolk starting pitcher Joe Crawford went eight superior innings scattering four hits, a performance that appeared to be enough with the aid of Matt Franco's solo home run in the fourth.
But Crawford was lifted in the ninth in favor of closer Rick Trlicek, who was 5 for 5 in save situations in the last month of the regular season.
``Joe had done his job and was over 100 pitches,'' Tides manager Bruce Benedict said.
Tim Barker started the Clippers' half of the ninth with a single to left and when Matt Luke bunted between the mound and first, Trlicek lost his footing trying to track it down. After Woodson's sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third, Spencer's sacrifice fly to left made it 1-1.
``Usually I cover (first) on that play, but when the ball got by me I looked up and Matt was covering first,'' Trlicek said. ``I tried to get back and get the ball, but I slipped a little. It was a perfect bunt.''
The Tides, however, were looking golden when Castillo singled to right with one out and Thurman drilled a Ramiro Mendoza offering that tailed away from centerfielder Bubba Carpenter.
``I was on the top step of the dugout and felt (Flora) was definitely going to make it,'' Trlicek said. ``When he slipped, my heart sank to my ankles.''
Even after Woodson's homer, which followed a leadoff walk to Matt Howard and a one-out walk to Luke, the Tides weren't done.
Jay Payton, Kevin Roberson and Joel Chimelis strung together singles to start the bottom of the 11th, making it 4-2 and chasing reliever Ken Edenfield.
After David Weathers came on in relief, Chris Howard sacrificed to put runners at second and third.
Thurman then drilled a Weathers offering back at the mound, the ball bouncing off Weathers' glove before he retrieved it and threw out Thurman as Roberson scored.
Shawn Gilbert popped out to second to end it with pinch-runner Terrell Lowery at third.
``I don't think there's anybody who feels more poorly than (Flora) does,'' Benedict said. ``My heart's broken for him.'' ILLUSTRATION: BILL TIERNAN/Virginian-Pilot photos
High winds Thursday night made for a tough job of removing the tarp
from the Harbor Park field, top, before the game got underway at
about 7:30 p.m. Above, Matt Franco is welcomed back to the dugout
after his home run gave Norfolk a 1-0 lead. by CNB