DATE: Friday, June 13, 1997                 TAG: 9706130646

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ED GONSER, CORRESPONDENT 
DATELINE: SYRACUSE, N.Y.                    LENGTH:   49 lines

PETAGINE'S THREE-RUN HOMER IN 8TH INNING WINS IT FOR THE TIDES NORFOLK MOVES ON FOR A WEEKEND SERIES IN OTTAWA AGAINST THE LYNX.

Roberto Petagine's three-run homer in the eighth inning broke open a close game as the Norfolk Tides rolled to an 8-6 win over the Syracuse SkyChiefs Thursday night.

With runners on the corners and one out, Petagine sent a 1-0 fastball deep into the picnic area behind the rightfield fence. Petagine was 2 for 4 with four RBIs and scored twice.

Kevin Morgan led off the eighth with a single and scored on a single by Benny Agbayani. Agbayani went to second on the throw to the plate. Todd Pratt then hit a screamer to short. Syracuse shortstop Tomas Perez tried to get Agbayani at third but the tag was high. Perez argued the call and was tossed from the game.

The Tides, down 2-1 in the fourth, answered the SykChiefs' Ryan Thompson's solo homer in the third with a leadoff homer by Scott McClain. It was McClain's fifth leadoff homer and improved his average to .342 when leading off an inning.

Norfolk battled back from a 4-2 deficit in the seventh to tie the game. Syracuse reliever Bill Risley walked Pratt and Petagine and then hit Wes Chamberlain. McClain then singled in Pratt and Petagine.

``One good thing about this ballclub, we make some mistakes, we make a lot of mistakes, but they have the ability to come back and cover it up,'' said Tides manager Rick Demspey.

``They never give up, they never quit. We're a tough team to beat when we're hitting the ball.''

Syracuse manager Garth Iorg gave Norfolk credit, saying, ``They didn't give up and battled back. I thought we did too but they did it a little bit harder then we did.''

NOTES: Outfielder Gary Thurman, who was called up to the New York Mets six weeks ago, has refused an assignment to rejoin the Tides. Thurman has over five years major league experience, which grants him right of refusal. ... The Tides played Thursday with a skeleton crew. Dempsey only had one extra healthy body (Charlie Greene) on the bench. Phil Geisler is still bothered by his sprained ankle and has not been put on the disabled list. Dempsey would have used him in an emergency but also toyed with the idea of using starting pitcher Joe Crawford. Dempsey said that the guys playing for the Double-A Binghamton Mets should sleep with ear open this week. ``They'll be on call'' to fill the Tides' depleted ranks, said Dempsey. ... The Tides bused to Ottawa after the game for a weekend series against the Lynx. Ottawa had Thursday off. Juan Acevedo (5-4) will face Rodney Henderson (2-4) for tonight's game that gets under way at 7:05.

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