DATE: Tuesday, July 22, 1997                TAG: 9707220108

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   62 lines

CHARLOTTE DEALS TIDES 4TH-STRAIGHT LOSS

It's official: The Norfolk Tides are in a slide.

The Tides dropped their fourth straight game Monday night, losing to the Charlotte Knights 5-2 at Harbor Park.

The good news is that the Columbus Clippers, their nearest competitor in the International League West Division, had the night off and made up only a half-game in the standings.

The bad news is that the Tides' lead is at a half-game, their smallest margin since June 11. Norfolk (59-43) has led or been tied for the division lead since May 28.

``This is an unexpected drought,'' said second baseman Jason Hardtke. ``We'd just swept Toledo in three when it started. All of a sudden, we couldn't put together any hits. It's just one of those things. But you can't overanalyze it. That can do more harm than good.''

Simply, the bats have gone cold, the gloves are chilly as well, and the Tides are in dire need of a solid pitching performance.

``We've given up 11 runs in the first inning alone in the last (four) games,'' said manager Rick Dempsey. ``That has to stop. Innings like that lose ball games.''

The Knights plated two runs in the first against Chris Roberts, who was making his first start for the Tides this season.

Dave Berg doubled over the head of centerfielder Mike Moore with one out, and Cliff Floyd walked. Russ Morman then singled to the gap in left to drive in the first run, and Brian Daubach lifted a sacrifice fly to left for the second run.

Roberts was seeing his first action in a Tides uniform since 1995, when he went 7-13. He underwent elbow surgery the following spring and has been working his way back up the ladder since. He was 5-8 for Double-A Binghamton prior to his call-up.

Charlotte took a 3-0 lead in the second when Chris Clapinski homered to left with two out. After that, Roberts settled down, striking out seven while walking one in 6 2/3 innings.

Charlotte scratched out insurance runs in the eighth and ninth, and Dan Chergey and Robby Stanifer pitched a scoreless inning of relief apiece to make starter Reid Cornelius' seven innings of work - four hits, no walks, seven strikeouts - stand up.

Norfolk got one of its runs when Jason Hardtke tripled, then scored when Cornelius balked.

Roberto Petagine homered to straightaway center with one out in the fourth to cut the margin to 3-2.

Dempsey was so befuddled by the Tides' recent offensive slump that he hit Hardtke in the No. 4 spot and moved Petagine up one slot to the No. 3 spot.

``I had to try something to get us jump-started,'' Dempsey said. ``Hardtke's hitting the ball, and Petagine needed to see some good pitches.''

NOTES: Brian Bohanon, who had become the ace of the Tides' starting rotation with a 9-3 record and league-best 2.63 ERA, will start for the New York Mets on Wednesday night in a nationally televised game. The Mets' game against the Los Angeles Dodgers (10:30 p.m.) is the tail-end of an ESPN doubleheader. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

IAN MARTIN/The Virginian-Pilot

Steve Bieser's best effort wasn't enough to beat the throw from

third, gloved by Charlotte first baseman Brian Daubach.

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