Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 22, 1990 TAG: 9006220362
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RAY COX/SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
The bad was the first loss of the season: 8-2 to the Bluefield Orioles. Tossed in was some ugly: six errors. Making up for some of the aforementioned miseries was some good: five-plus solid innings of relief pitching by 18-year-old right-hander Joe Roa.
Roa, a second-year pro from Hazel Park, Mich., scattered five of Bluefield's 10 hits and held the Orioles without a run until the ninth.
Roa did what he was supposed to do, which was keep his team in the game long enough so it could stage a rally after falling behind 7-2. The Braves, though, weren't getting much going against starter Juan Mercedes, who pitched six strong innings, or successors Mike Hebb and Jeff Williams.
"There were some bright spots," Braves manager Randy Ingle said. "Just getting their feet wet - most of these guys were playing in their first professional game, so they were a little nervous."
One who did not seem to be overly afflicted with jitters was Roa, who came in with the bases loaded after the Orioles had chased starter Brian Bark.
Roa yielded a hit over second and, coupled with an error in right field, that brought all three runs in.
"In that situation, I had to give him my best pitch, my fastball, and come right after him," Roa said. "I thought I had him jammed, but it turned out to be his strength against my strength."
Roa settled down to throw four shutout innings. In the sixth, he surrendered a leadoff triple to Gordon Graham, the No. 9 batter, then stranded him by retiring the top of the lineup.
"I pitched at Bradenton last year and had a 2.89 ERA in about 40 innings," he said. "I'm basically just learning to pitch. I was more of a thrower before. I was a shortstop in high school and I didn't really start pitching until I was a senior."
The Braves, meanwhile, had all kinds of trouble with Mercedes. The left-hander gave up two runs on Troy Hughes' RBI triple and Vincent Jiminez's infield single in the second then cruised. He struck out six.
"Their guy pitched real well," Ingle said.
\ BRAVES BRIEFS: There were other surprising developments for Roa on Thursday in Calfee Park. His parents caught him unawares by driving from Michigan to see his Appalachian League debut. . . . In the second game of the series tonight, the Braves send left-hander Henry Werland to oppose left-hander Matt Anderson. Bluefield 201400001-8102 Pulaski 020000000-276
Mercedes, Hebb (7th), Williams (9th) and Hodge. Bark, Roa (4th) and Jiminez. W-Mercedes (0-2). L-Bark (0-1).
by CNB