Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 21, 1990 TAG: 9007210184
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: JEFF MOTLEY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
For the second time in two weeks, Persing limited the Braves to five hits, helping the Elizabethton Twins extend their league lead to two games over Pulaski with a 8-1 win at Calfee Park on Friday night.
"I know this team well for some reason," Persing said. "I pitched well down in Elizabethton last week, but I left in the seventh trailing 3-2 and got a no-decision.
"I really seem to do well against these guys. The only one that worries me is Johnny Walker."
Walker, the Braves' power-hitting right fielder, was responsible for the only Pulaski run when he hit a home run over the 30-foot wall in right field in the fifth inning.
"[Walker] hit one off of me at Elizabethton, too, and that's the only ball that was hit hard down there," Persing said.
Despite his team's lack of production, first-year Pulaski coach Randy Ingle said he wasn't that disappointed.
"We may not have gotten many hits, but we had some quality at-bats," Ingle said. "Several of our guys hit the ball hard, but they were right at somebody. It was just one of those days, I guess."
While the Braves were hitting the Twins' gloves, Elizabethton was finding all the holes.
The Twins (18-8) scored five runs in a third inning highlighted by a two-run single by Dennis Hocking.
In the fifth, Elizabethton scored three more to push the lead to 8-0. Paul Bruno led off with his third home run, a deep shot over the right-center field fence that bounced on Pierce Avenue.
"They got some good cuts off of us tonight, and they found all the holes," Ingle said. "But the sun will come up tomorrow, and the good thing about playing every day is you don't have time to think about a loss."
\ BRAVES NOTES: Brian Bark, who was scheduled to start Thursday night but was scratched because of an asthma attack, was still in the Pulaski Community Hospital. Ingle said he doesn't know when Bark will return to action. . . . Friday also marked the return of third baseman Jamie Crump, who had missed the past week with a hand injury. . . . Pulaski (17-11) continues its homestand tonight against the last-place Martinsville Phillies. Henry Werland (0-0, 3.55 ERA) will pitch for the Braves. Elizabethton 005030000-8121 Pulaski 000010000-154
Persing and Bruno; Williams, Place (5) and Toth. W-Persing (3-1). L-Williams (2-1). HR-Bruno (E) 5th none on; Walker (P) 5th none on.
by CNB