DATE: Thursday, May 1, 1997                 TAG: 9705010698

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   80 lines

PETAGINE GETS POPPING AS TIDES SPLIT PAIR HIS 3 DOUBLES IN 1ST GAME PULL OUT A WIN; BIG HR POWERS RED WINGS IN THE SECOND.

Roberto Petagine came out of one of his career's worst slumps in grand style when he doubled three times and drove in the game-winner in the Norfolk Tides' 5-4 victory over the Rochester Red Wings in the first game of a doubleheader Wednesday at Harbor Park.

The Tides, who were four runs down heading into the fifth inning, rallied twice in their last three at-bats, with Petagine, a lefthander, starring in both rallies.

Norfolk (15-12) couldn't pull the same magic in the second game, losing 4-2 to the Eastern Division-leading Red Wings (17-9).

``It's nice to see Roberto start getting his knocks,'' Tides manager Rick Dempsey said.

Petagine, who was in a 1-for-16 slump, entered the day hitting .179 and finished batting .214. He pointed to a more open stance as the key to his turnaround.

The Tides' fifth-inning rally began when Chris Saunders reached on a throwing error by Rochester third baseman Willis Otanez with one out. Angel Jaime then singled over short.

After Luis Lopez grounded out to second, Jason Hardtke looped a single into right for two runs. Benny Agbayani followed with a walk.

Petagine then sliced a fly ball to left that bounced on the foul line on the warning track and hopped into the stands, scoring Hardtke but stranding Agbayani at third.

``That was a little unfortunate,'' said Petagine, who was 4 for 6 on the afternoon. ``If it's not a ground-rule double, Benny scores.''

In the seventh, Lopez doubled with one out, then Hardtke flew out to left for the second out. Agabayani tied it at 4-4 with a sharp single to right, then Petagine stroked a 1-2 pitch from Brian Williams into the gap in right.

Agbayani was so excited that he slowed short of the plate, stomped on it, then leaped into the arms of on-deck teammate Todd Pratt.

``That's a good feeling,'' Agbayani said. ``You know Roberto is a good hitter and good hitters come back.''

The outcome made a winner of starting pitcher Juan Acevedo (3-1) who threw seven impressive innings but appeared headed for a loss when Norfolk fell behind 4-0.

Rochester struck for two unearned runs in the first when throwing errors by Lopez at short and third baseman Scott McClain were sandwiched around an otherwise harmless single through the left side by Jim Wawruck.

In the fourth, Rochester's Jose Tolentino singled with one out and Wazsgis followed with a double down the third base line. P.J. Forbes' fly ball to right scored Tolentino. Then Acevedo fell off the mound and was called for a balk, allowing Wazsgis to score.

``My spike caught on the mound,'' Acevedo said. ``It's the first time it's ever happened to me. I should have just thrown the ball anyway, but I had a curveball grip and didn't want to let it go.''

This marked a turn of fortune for the hard-throwing righthander. Last season he was plagued by injury and never seemed to get a break, going 4-8 with a 5.96 earned run average. His season ended in July when a stress fracture was discovered in his left tibia.

In the second game, Rochester jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first inning on a monstrous home run by Tim Laker off Shannon Withem. The ball hit the black screen hitters look into beyond the centerfield fence, which is 410 feet from home plate. It was the first time an International League player had hit the screen at Harbor Park in a game.

And it was the second huge home run by Laker against the Tides. Last week he hit a ball an estimated 460 feet, passing over the scoreboard in left at Frontier Field in Rochester.

Bunts and singles: Tickets for the Tides' annual exhibition game with the Mets (May 12, 7 p.m.) go on sale today at 10 a.m. It's ... The Tides are in the market for a bullpen catcher. Contact general manager Dave Rosenfield at the Tides offices. ... Fans on hand Friday night for the first of three games against the Columbus Clippers will receive coupons for free bagels from Dunkin Donuts. ... Saturday night's first 5,000 fans will receive Tides seat cushions. Fireworks will follow the game. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

HUY NGUYEN/The Virginian-Pilot

Leftfielder Benny Agbayani runs out of real estate chasing a foul

pop as a couple of Wednesday's 7,128 fans react.

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu