DATE: Wednesday, August 13, 1997            TAG: 9708130881

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   57 lines

TIDES FALL ON 230-FOOT "STRIKE" SEEFRIED IS THROWN OUT AT THE PLATE IN THE 9TH TO END NORFOLK THREAT.

The Columbus Clippers' pitching staff threw solid pitches all night, but it was a 230-foot strike from leftfielder Tim Barker that preserved a 2-1 victory Tuesday night over the Norfolk Tides at Harbor Park.

Barker threw out Tate Seefried at the plate for the game's final out, as the Clippers cut Norfolk's lead in the International League West Division to 2 1/2 games.

The teams will finish this three-game series, which also marks the end of a 10-game homestand, at 7:15 tonight. Norfolk (69-56) then hits the road for six games, three in Toledo, three more in Columbus.

Seefried was trying to score on a sharp single through the infield by Ramon Espinosa when he was thrown out.

The play was a repeat of one earlier in the night. Or at least a reflection.

Clippers starting pitcher Ray Ricken (10-5) had a no-hitter with two out in the fifth but had put runners on by hitting Wes Chamberlain with a pitch and walking Alberto Castillo.

Espinosa, who rejoined the Tides from Double-A Binghamton on Monday and delivered a key two-run hit in a 3-0 victory, broke up Ricken's bid with a sharp single to right.

But Shane Spencer came up firing and nailed Chamberlain at the plate.

The Clippers (66-57) scored both of their runs in the third against Tides starting pitcher Chris Roberts (0-4).

Homer Bush walked with one out. Then, New York Yankees outfielder Darryl Strawberry, who is with the Clippers while rehabilitating from knee surgery, lined a run-scoring double off the wall in left and went to third when shortstop Kevin Morgan's throw to the plate was wide and skipped by Castillo.

Shane Spencer then singled to right to score Strawberry.

Norfolk eventually chased Ricken in the seventh but didn't get on the scoreboard until the eighth. Jason Hardtke doubled to the gap in left with two out. Roberto Petagine walked, and Hardtke went to third on a ball-four wild pitch. Then Mike Moore singled through the left side of the infield.

The Tides' ninth-inning threat started when Chamberlain singled to left. Seefried reached on an unsuccessful sacrifice bunt attempt in which Chamberlain was out at second. Alberto Castillo's chopper to short moved Seefried to second and brought Espinosa to the plate.

NOTES: Three players have already been ejected in this series for arguing called third strikes. Monday it was Spencer; Tuesday it was Clipper Mike Lowell and Tide Scott McClain. ... Tides outfielder Benny Agbayani was placed on the seven-day disabled list with strained knee ligaments, retroactive to Sunday. ... One lucky fan will win the choice of one of five cars at tonight's game while eight runners-up will receive Tides jackets and 5,000 fans will receive 32-ounce travel mugs, all courtesy of Pepsi. ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]

L.TODD SPENCER

Morris Hodges, Mike Lowell...

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