DATE: Saturday, July 12, 1997               TAG: 9707120625

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   66 lines

TIDES RALLY FOR 3 IN 9TH BUT LEAVE TYING RUN AT 3RD

Just when it appeared that Norfolk could light another victory cigar, the Pawtucket Red Sox snuck an exploding one into the Tides' stogie box.

The PawSox sent 11 batters to the plate in the eighth inning, scored six runs and brought to an end the impressive stretch of complete-game victories by Tides pitcher Brian Bohanon as Norfolk fell 8-7 at Harbor Park on Friday night.

The Tides fell to 55-38 but still lead Columbus by 4 1/2 games in the International League West Division.

Bohanon came in with three straight complete-game victories and appeared to be cruising to his fourth after striking out the side in the seventh inning while holding a 4-2 lead.

The beginning of the end started inconspicuously with a single to right by No. 9 hitter Rod Correia. Donnie Sadler followed with an infield single that bounded over the head of Tides first baseman Roberto Petagine.

Matters soured when Trot Nixon laid down a sacrifice bunt and Tides catcher Charlie Greene threw wildly to third, allowing a run. Lou Merloni then singled in a run on an 0-2 pitch to make it 4-4 and end Bohanon's night.

Mike Welch came on in relief and gave up three hits without retiring a batter as Jose Malave singled, Adam Hyzdu followed with a two-run double and Gary Bennett singled in another run off reliever Jimmy Myers to make it 8-4.

``It's uncharacteristic of this bullpen to let things get away like that,'' Tides manager Rick Dempsey said.

Almost unbelievably, it wasn't over.

The Tides put together their own ninth-inning rally and came within inches of forcing extra innings.

Petagine, who had doubled in two runs earlier in the evening, led off with another double off reliever Ken Grundt, who had come on to start the ninth. Wes Chamberlain then singled home Petagine.

Rich Garces came on and walked pinch-hitter Scott McClain. Kevin Morgan followed with a run-scoring single to center.

James Martin then attempted to beat out a bunt, but Correia's throw from third barely got him at first.

Chris Saunders then worked a full-count walk to load the bases and Pawtucket turned it over to reliever Tim Cain.

Cain coaxed Jason Hardtke into a fielder's-choice groundout to second. Saunders kept the Tides alive with a hard slide that took out Sadler, the Pawtucket shortstop.

With runners at the corners, Greene drilled a 1-1 pitch from Cain to the warning track in left-center, but Malave hauled it in on the dead run to end it.

``We didn't lay down,'' Dempsey said. ``And Charlie came within a hair of winning it for us at the end. But we played poorly defensively all night and have nobody but ourselves to blame for this one.''

Notes: The Mets on Friday optioned catcher Alberto Castillo to Norfolk to make room for shortstop Rey Ordonez, who is coming off the 15-day disabled list after breaking a bone in his glove hand. ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]

MARTIN SMITH-RODDEN/The Virginian-Pilot

Tides starter Brian Bohanon's string of complete-game wins was

snapped at three by a six-run eighth.

MARTIN SMITH-RODDEN/The Virginian-Pilot

Tides second baseman Jason Hardtke takes off for first while

watching the flight of the ball, a home run that gave Norfolk a

first-inning lead.

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