DATE: Tuesday, August 19, 1997              TAG: 9708190441

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY AARON PORTZLINE, CORRESPONDENT 

DATELINE: COLUMBUS, OHIO                    LENGTH:   55 lines

COLUMBUS TOPS TIDES ON LEDEE'S 2-RUN DOUBLE CLIPPERS NOW ONE GAME BACK IN IL WEST RACE WITH TWO GAMES TO GO IN SERIES.

Ricky Ledee returned from a long, painful spell on the disabled list last night, just in time to be a pain in the neck of the Norfolk Tides.

Ledee, out since mid-May with a severe groin pull, made a triumphant return to the lineup, smoking a two-run double to spark the Columbus Clippers to a 3-1 win over Norfolk in Game 1 of an important three-game series at Cooper Stadium.

The win pulls Columbus within one game of the Tides in the race for the International League West Division title. Game 2 is tonight at 7:15 p.m.

``How's that for a comeback?'' Columbus manager Stump Merrill said of Ledee's performance. ``He's a big-time player, everybody knows that. And he came through for us in a big-time situation.''

Ledee's hit allowed Columbus to take advantage of wildness by Norfolk starter Juan Acevedo (6-5), who didn't permit a runner past second base in the first five innings.

But he created his own problems in the sixth, walking leadoff hitter Scott Pose after a tough battle in which Pose fouled off three full-count pitches.

Matt Howard followed with a sharp single to right and both runners advanced a base on a wild pitch. Ledee then lined a full-count pitch to right-center field, scoring Howard and Pose to put Columbus up 2-1.

Ledee moved to third on a deep fly to left by Shane Spencer and scored on yet another wild pitch by Acevedo to cap the scoring.

``(Acevedo) pitched a real good ball game, but he dug himself a hole there in the sixth,'' Norfolk manager Rick Dempsey said. ``The walk, two wild pitches . . . that's just asking for trouble.''

Especially when your offense is struggling, as Norfolk's has the last two weeks. In that span, the Tides have scored more than three runs in a game just twice.

``We've got a lot of young guys who are just learning to play at this level, learning how good the pitchers are,'' Dempsey said. ``It's a tough situation for Acevedo, because he pitched well enough to win. Three runs should get it done for you, but not the way we're going right now.''

Columbus starter Frank Lankford furthered Norfolk's offensive struggles with his second great outing against the Tides in seven days.

Last night, Lankford (5-4) allowed just five hits and one earned run in 7 1/3 innings. On Aug. 11, Lankford stifled Norfolk at Harbor Park on five hits and one earned run in seven innings.

``He's a good pitcher,'' Dempsey said. ``We've learned first-hand in the last week.''

Norfolk scored its only run in the fifth inning, when Wes Chamberlain cracked a two-out double to score Roberto Petagine.

NOTES: Tides pitcher Shannon Withem and Pawtucket Red Sox designated hitter-first basemen Tyrone Woods are International League players of the week, the league announced Monday. Withem allowed only three hits to lead the Tides to two victories last week.

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