DATE: Thursday, May 8, 1997                 TAG: 9705080661

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY CLYDE HUGHES, CORRESPONDENT 

DATELINE: MAUMEE, OHIO                      LENGTH:   58 lines

TIDES FALL APART IN 4TH INNING AT TOLEDO MUD HENS ERUPTED FOR SIX RUNS TO WIN THEIR 9TH STRAIGHT.

The Toledo Mud Hens did all of their scoring in the fourth inning to chop down the Norfolk Tides 6-1 Wednesday night at Ned Skeldon Stadium.

Toledo won its ninth consecutive game. It was the Mud Hens' fourth win over Norfolk in five meetings this season.

``We just couldn't come up with the big hit,'' said Norfolk manager Rick Dempsey. ``Their outfielders made a couple of nice catches that prevented us from getting some things going.

``A lot of those things go in cycles. We've been able to hit well at home but not on the road. Toledo only had five hits but they were at the right time.''

Toledo was able to get the win against Joe Crawford, the Tides' top pitcher.

It was Crawford's worst outing of the season, giving up six runs on four hits and four walks over 3 1/3 innings.

Crawford limited the Mud Hens to one hit over the first three innings but things fell apart quickly in the fourth.

With one out, Joe Hall reached on an infield single and Crawford walked Scott Makarewicz. Tim Hyers, though, delivered the big blow, driving Crawford's 3-1 pitch over the rightfield fence for a three-run homer to break a scoreless tie.

Dave Hajek followed Hyers with another home run over the leftfield fence for a 4-0 lead. Crawford then walked Glen Barker and Ray Holbert before he was lifted for reliever Jimmy Myers.

Myers walked Kimera Bartee to load the bases and gave up a bloop single to Steve Rodriguez, scoring Barker. Jimmy Hurst then sacrificed to right to score Holbert from third.

Norfolk was able to get one run back in the sixth inning against Toledo starter Tim Pugh. Benny Agbayani walked, Roberto Petagine and Wes Chamberlain singled to load the bases with no outs.

Agbayani scored on Phil Geisler sacrifice to left, where Barker made a running over-the-shoulder catch.

The next batter, Jason Hardtke, took Pugh to the warning track in right before Hurst ran down his ball for an out.

``If the ball Agbayani hits drops in, we would have been able to get some momentum going,'' Dempsey said. ``Then Hurst came back and made another great play for them. Those balls could have gotten us back in the game.''

NOTES: Pitcher Cory Lidle was called up to the Mets, who designated pitcher Toby Borland for assignment. ... The six runs given up by Crawford in the fourth inning was the most he's given up in a game this season. ... Gilbert's single in the first inning extended his hitting streak to seven games. ... Brian Bohanon makes his first start with Norfolk in today's game against Toledo. ILLUSTRATION: Charts

BOXSCORE

STANDINGS

For copy of charts, see microfilm

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