DATE: Sunday, August 24, 1997               TAG: 9708240173

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   68 lines

ANOTHER RERUN: TIDES LOSE AGAIN

Watching the Norfolk Tides has become much like watching August television.

``Shucks, Honey. Another repeat. Check and see what's on Channel 6.''

The Tides lost - again - Saturday night at Harbor Park, falling 2-1 to the Richmond Braves for their fifth consecutive setback.

In doing so, they blew a strong starting pitching performance - again - this one by Juan Acevedo, who pitched 7 1/3 innings, struck out nine, walked three and was the victim of a two-run, two-out bloop single by Randall Simon to left that gave the streaking Braves their seventh consecutive victory.

And the Tides were wondering afterward - again - if the umpiring crew calling this series is watching the same game they are.

The problem with the umps began right from the get-go when Tides leadoff man Carlos Mendoza laid down a drag bunt to the right side of the mound and appeared to beat the throw of second baseman Mike Mordecai.

Mendoza couldn't believe it when first base umpire Mark Facto called him out, and Tides manager Rick Dempsey, who had been tossed for arguing balls and strikes the previous night, was once again on the field for a meeting.

The Tides still scored in the first when Benny Agbayani singled to left with two out and Roberto Petagine doubled off the fence in right-center on a hit-and-run.

``But it could have been a one-out, two-run double with Mendoza on,'' Dempsey said. ``It's become very frustrating.''

And increasingly dangerous to Norfolk's playoff hopes. The Tides (71-62) now hold a one-game lead over Charlotte (70-63) for the International League West Division's second postseason bid.

Richmond's two runs in the third were downright painful for the Tides. Pablo Martinez drew a two-out walk after battling Acevedo to a full count and a borderline ball four. Mordecai then fell behind 0-2 but put the bat on the ball just enough on a hit-and-run to elude second baseman Jason Hardtke, who had broken toward second base.

With runners at the corners, Simon then poked a two-strike pop-up behind third base that fell just out of the reach of leftfielder Mendoza to score both runners.

``The whole thing that set it up was the pitch to Martinez,'' Acevedo said. ``I thought it was a strike, but I didn't get the call.''

Acevedo also didn't get the calls while at the plate. While trying to sacrifice bunt with one out and a runner at first in the fifth, he fell behind 0-2, then drew three straight balls while squaring to bunt. A called third strike moved him to drop his bat at the plate.

``I thought (Richmond starter) Thobe threw me the same pitch I threw Martinez, even lower,'' Acevedo said.

The Tides didn't get a hit from the fifth inning on until Petagine drilled a single to center with one out in the ninth against reliever Brad Clontz.

Pinch-runner Ramon Espinosa was then thrown out stealing with Scott McClain at the plate with a 2-2 count.

``I gave him the steal sign,'' said Dempsey, who turned and kicked the bat rack in the Tides dugout like an angered horse in a stall. ``We had him at 1.45 (seconds) to the plate, and that's real slow. Then we don't get the job done on the steal.''

McClain then lined a single to right on a full count. Hardtke lined to center for the final out.

``Look at the guys in the lineup and stats we have,'' McClain said. ``There's no reason for this. We're playing good defense and getting great pitching and have been for two weeks. We're not getting blown out.

``Hopefully, we'll break out of this at the right time.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MOTOYA NAKAMURA/The Virginian-Pilot

Richmond's Mike Mordecai avoids Tides catcher Alberto Castillo and

scores during the third inning of the Braves' 2-1 win Saturday.

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