
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, May 14, 1990                   TAG: 9005140169
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By JOHN SMALLWOOD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

MCDOWELL, SCHLOPY LEAD BUCS/ PITCHERS' SWITCH KEY IN 12-2 WIN

After starting 19 games last season with Augusta of the South Atlantic League, Salem Buccaneers pitcher Tim McDowell wasn't quite comfortable as a middle reliever and spot starter - especially since he hadn't started a game. But he accepted his role.

Butch Schlopy, who wasn't having much success as a starter, thought he would be more effective as a relief pitcher.

So when Bucs manager Stan Cliburn decided to make some changes in his pitching staff, a switch in roles for McDowell and Schlopy seemed logical.

It certainly proved effective Sunday afternoon at Salem Municipal Field.

McDowell took Schlopy's spot in the rotation and pitched five strong innings. Schlopy came on and pitched three innings of scoreless relief, and the Bucs whipped the Peninsula Pilots 12-2 to win their third straight in the Carolina League.

Even before catcher Mandy Romero hit two home runs in the bottom of the eighth to highlight a nine-run, nine-hit inning, Salem (14-18) was in control behind the pitching of McDowell and Schlopy.

McDowell (2-1) scattered five hits, struck out three and did not walk a batter.

"I feel more comfortable starting," said McDowell, the son of former major-league pitcher "Sudden" Sam McDowell. "That's what I'm used to. It's different preparation. As a reliever, you really only have time to get two pitches working. As a starter, there's more time to warm up and get more pitches working. I feel more comfortable with four pitches."

Schlopy took over after McDowell gave up a single to begin the sixth, and he protected the Bucs' 3-1 margin. He gave up four hits without a walk.

Romero, who finished the day 3-for-5 with five RBI, began the onslaught in the eighth by driving a pitch from Peninsula reliever Oscar Rivas over the wall in right field. Later in the inning, Romero tied the league record for homers in an inning by tagging Rivas again with two men on base.

\ BUCSHOTS: The Durham Bulls make their first appearance at Municipal Field tonight as they begin a three-game series. PENINSULA SALEM ab r h bi ab r h bi Tavarez cf4010 Sims cf4112 Pezzoni lf5020 Schreiber 3b5220 Saetre rf5000 Merejo dh4122 LBailey 1b4010 Hines 1b1000 Pilkinton 3b4020 Raisanen ph1000 Campanis c4000 Shelton 1b1110 KThomas dh2210 Romero c5235 DThomas 2b4010 Estep rf3110 Santana ss4011 Morrison rf2110 Pennye lf5121 Huyler ss5111 RBailey 2b4121 Totals36 2 9 1 Totals 40 12 16 12

Peninsula000 010 001-2 Salem111 000 09x-12

E-Tavarez, L. Bailey, D. Thomas, Santana, Pennye, R. Bailey 2, Huyler. DP-Peninsula 2, Salem 2. LOB-Peninsula 9, Salem 8. 2B-Santana, Sims, Merejo, Morrison, Pennye. HR-Romero 2 (5). SB-Schreiber (3), Hines (2), Estep (2), R. Bailey (4), L. Bailey (2). SF-Merejo. IP HRERBBSO Peninsula Gutierrez L, 1-4 663125 Rivas 199401 Garcia 10000 Salem McDowell W, 2-1 551003 Schlopy 340000 Pomeranz 101021

McDowell faced one batter in sixth.

HBP-K. Thomas by McDowell, Hines by Gutierrez. WP-Pomeranz, Gutierrez. PB-Campanis.

Umpires-Home, Langley, bases, Irvin, Vestal.

T-2:50. A-982.

Keywords:
BASEBALL

by CNB