Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 28, 1990 TAG: 9006280206
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RAY COX SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
Dando homered and had four hits as the Braves required 11 innings to beat the Kingsport Mets 5-4 in an Appalachian League baseball game at Calfee Park.
"I had a real bad extended spring training and I was glad to get out of there," said Dando, a first baseman. "I like to play much better at night. I'm a night person. I sleep all day, until 2 p.m. some days. I see the ball better at night, too."
He got a real good look at a quartet of Mets offerings. He singled three times and drilled his first homer of the year, a solo shot to right field off Mets starter Rob Rees, in five at-bats. He also scored twice and had two RBI.
"I slowed myself down tonight," Dando said. "I've been out in front of the ball. On the road trip, I was hitting well. Tonight, I slowed down and tried to go the opposite way."
Dando slowed down enough to raise his average to .451 (14-of-31). A year ago, it didn't look as if he was going to do any hitting as a professional. The scouts overlooked him, he went undrafted and finally signed as a free agent.
"I was disappointed not to be drafted, but really, I'm just glad to be here," he said. "I'm 21 years old; the money didn't matter - I just wanted to play."
The Braves, who have won five of their first seven, led the entire game until the ninth. Then, Kingsport's Micah Franklin led off the inning by parking Mike Shepherd's first pitch down the line in right and over the fence for a homer that made it 4-4.
"I throw a lot of curveballs," Shepherd said. "I should have gone with my best pitch, but instead, I threw him a fastball. That was a mistake. I thought I got it up and in on him, but . . . "
Still, Shepherd hung in there the next three innings for the win. The Braves won it when two Mets errors brought pinch runner Jimmie Pullins in from first.
"I would have rather had the save," Shepherd said.
\ BRAVES BRIEFS: Keith Morrison (1-0) will pitch against Tom Wedman (0-0) when the series concludes tonight. The Braves entertain the Princeton Patriots Friday and Saturday. Kingsport 00111000100-4114 Pulaski 30100000001-5144
Rees, Bristow (7), Martinez (9) and Kinyoun. Williams, Chiles (7), Shepherd (9) and Jiminez. W - Shepherd (1-0). L - Martinez (0-1). HR - Dando (P), third, none on; Franklin (K), ninth, none on.
by CNB