ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, May 23, 1996 TAG: 9605230052
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: LYNCHBURG
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
The chances of the Salem Avalanche rallying in the ninth inning Wednesday afternoon to beat the Lynchburg Hillcats seemed as remote as the possibility of John Giudice hitting a grand slam.
So, it seemed appropriate that Giudice, who had struck out in three of four plate appearances, would launch the crushing blow in a seven-run ninth inning that propelled the Avalanche to a 10-5 Carolina League victory at City Stadium.
``That was unbelievable,'' Giudice said. ``This game is so weird. I can't explain it. To go 0-for-4 with three punchouts, then come up [in the ninth and homer] ... I'm speechless. I'm overwhelmed.''
That the high-strung Giudice would ever be speechless is noteworthy, considering that he nearly got booted in the fifth inning for arguing with plate umpire Mike Billings after a called third strike. Salem manager Bill McGuire intervened and Giudice was spared an unceremonious ouster.
``I just exploded,'' Giudice said. Batting coach Joe Marchese said, ```We need you in the game.'''
Salem took over sole possession of first place in the South Division ahead of Winston-Salem, which lost 9-0 at Durham.
Salem (27-20) entered the ninth trailing 5-3 after Lynchburg (20-25) scored twice in the eighth on Jose Guillen's solo homer off starter Mike Vavrek and Erskine Kelley's RBI single, his fourth hit. Lynchburg's bullpen had faced the minimum 12 batters through four innings before the Avalanche rallied against Rafael Chaves (0-1).
Chad Gambill led off the ninth with his third hit and Blake Barthol followed with a walk. After Brian Culp fouled a bunt attempt, McGuire daringly put on a hit and run. Culp laced a double that scored Gambill and moved Barthol to third.
Pookie Jones' infield single loaded the bases and Salem took the lead when Lynchburg third baseman Freddy Garcia fielded Steve Bernhardt's grounder and threw wildly to the plate, allowing Barthol and Culp to score to make it 6-5.
Garcia struck out Elvis Pena, then intentionally walked Kyle Houser to load the bases for Giudice, who turned on a high fastball and drove it over the left-field wall.
Luis Colmenares (4-3) got the win with 11/3 innings of work in relief of Vavrek, who allowed five runs on 12 hits.
LENGTH: Medium: 53 linesby CNB