Glavine, Franco combine on four-hitter; Fremont beats Seaview 2-1, evens series at two each

Biggio singles in game-winner in the eighth

Fremont, Wash. — Tom Glavine and John Franco combined on a four-hitter, and Fremont beat Seaview 2-1 in game four of the Century League World Series to even the skirmish at two games each.

Game one starters Glavine and Urban Shocker both came back on three days of rest to start in game four. Fremont manager Bobby Cox likes Glavine, his biggest winner on the season, because of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and the other lefty sluggers on the Seaview club. Shocker was thrown out of game one after his third hit batsman.

Both hurlers had shaky starts, as Seaview loaded the bases against Glavine in the first, but Al Simmons bounced into a double play to end the threat. Fremont also filled the sacks in the first, but Mike Piazza, their hitting star of the series so far, grounded out to end the frame.

Seaview drew first blood, as Ruth connected for a one-out homer off Glavine in the third. The score remained at 1-0 unith the fifth, when Fremont scratched out a run on Barry Bonds' two-out, RBI double to make it 1-1.

Cox faced a key decision in the bottom of the sixth. Glavine came to the plate with two on and two out in a tie game. Does he stick with his ace, or go for a bat off the bench. Cox summoned Fred McGriff to hit for Glavine. McGriff flied out to left to end the inning. But the decision worked out for Fremont.

Cox called on Franco, who had gotten rocked a bit in the series opener. But this time he was perfect, retiring all nine batters he faced.

Fremont finally broke the tie in the eighth. Gary Sheffield walked with one out against Sherry Smith. Mike Piazza singled to first base, as Gehrig was able to make a dive to knock down his sharp grounder, but had no play. Ed Rommell replaced Smith on the hill and got Matt Williams to ground to second, with the runners advancing to second and third. Craig Biggio then singled to right; Sheffield scored, but Piazza was thrown out at home by Ruth, who had also thrown Williams out at the plate in the second.

It was no matter. Seaview went out feebly in the ninth against Franco. Bucky Harris fouled out to the catcher, Jimmy Dykes bounced out to first, and Willie Kamm went down swinging for the final out.

Did he ever think of going to closer Trevor Hoffman with a one-run lead in the ninth?

"Nope," said Cox. "Franco was throwing good."

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