Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 2, 1993 TAG: 9306020203
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Salem Buccaneers, who could do with a scrap of good news, didn't get it when the league's best team came calling the second time in as many nights.
The rolling Rocks tagged the Bucs with their fifth loss in a row, a 15-8 pasting at Municipal Field on Tuesday.
Wilmington (32-19), the comfortable leader of the Northern Division and a winner of seven of its past 10 games, scored six runs on seven hits and an error while sending 10 men to the plate in the first inning against Gary Wilson.
"When you get into a little losing streak, things get magnified," Salem pitching coach Dave Rajsich said. "Wilson had outstanding stuff in the bullpen, but he never seemed to get a rhythm in the first inning. When you get on that mound, you'd better be ready."
The Bucs (23-28), now five games behind first-place Kinston in the Southern Division, might have hoped that the worst was behind them. But Wilson went on to give up three additional runs, then turned it over to a bullpen that was raked for six more.
In the past 32 1/3 innings, the pen has leaked 39 runs. Left-hander Jim Martin came off the disabled list Tuesday, leaving the Bucs without only Kevin Rychel, but Martin wasn't ready to go.
"Playing in this ballpark makes for a different kind of game," Rocks manager Ron Johnson said.
Wilmington has been playing a different kind of game from the rest of the league. Against Salem, Shane Halter - allegedly not a longball hitter - smacked his fourth and fifth of the season. Lurking in the No. 9 hole, Chad Strickland and John Dempsey combined for three hits, including Dempsey's first home run, and four RBI.
Apparently, a natural bent for optimism is a requirement for managing, or so it would seem from Salem's Scott Little.
"We scored runs in every inning but three and had fifteen hits," he said. "These guys didn't quit. We'll weather this storm and maybe the sun will come out tomorrow."
BUCSHOTS: Salem's Jon Farrell was booted in the sixth after intemperate remarks to umpire Joel Fincher. . . . Trace Ragland replaced him and went 2-for-2 with a double and his fourth home run, a solo shot. . . . Ken Bonifay came in in second place in the league hitting standings but went 0-for-5 to drop 10 points to .317. See microfilm for box score.
Keywords:
BASEBALL
by CNB