Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, May 3, 1993 TAG: 9305030108
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
No, there was no madman loose in the Bucs dressing quarters bent on murderous intent. However, had the baseball game gone differently, several of the Bucs might have been driven to lunacy and attempted to do themselves violence.
Actually, Salem pulled out an 8-7 Carolina League victory over Lynchburg when Chance Sanford poked a two-out single over first base and down the right field line to drive in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th as 2,762 fans looked on. So the Bucs win a series for a change (this one by taking two of three) and now they are allowed to shave.
"We had a deal earlier this week that we weren't going to shave until we'd won a series," Sanford said.
To be truthful, the Bucs had to endure a close shave at the plate to score the winning run. Marty Neff, who had dumped a pinch single over second base to reach, hesitated on his way home before bolting at the last second and was almost thrown out.
"I thought the first baseman had knocked it down and then picked it up because he was facing the plate," Neff said. "Then I thought I heard Lit [manager Scott Little coaching at third] say, `No.' What he really said was, `Touch and go.' "
The Red Sox, mired in last place in the Northern Division, argued heatedly that Sanford's hit was foul.
"I don't know," Lynchburg manager Mark Meleski said. "I couldn't see it, but my catcher and first baseman could and they said it was foul. I think they [the runners] thought it was foul, too, because the guy stopped on his way home. You hate to end a ballgame like that."
Not if you're the Bucs, who saw a 6-0 lead evaporate when Lynchburg chased starter Dave Doorneweerd with a four-run fourth.
"It's great to win a game like that," Little said. "You hoped it was going to be easy, but Lynchburg wasn't going to let that happen."
Particularly Jose Malave, who went 3-for-3 with a double and home run, drove in four runs - including the tying one in the top of the ninth - and stole a base. The homer was his fifth and he raised his batting average 22 points to .376.
"He swung the bat well," Meleski said. "He has all season."
\ BUCSHOTS: Sanford went 3-for-6 including his second homer of the year and second in as many nights. "Every time I hit a home run, I hit them in spurts," he said. "Last year, I had five for the year and I hit them all in one week, including three in four at-bats." . . . Ken Bonifay went 2-for-4 to raise his league-leading average to .433. He doubled twice with two RBI and hit the ball hard every time. . . . Jeff Conger, coming in batting .117 in his past 34 at-bats, went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a sacrifice. He said Little had helped him by opening his stance more so he could see the ball better.
\ see microfilm for box score
by CNB