Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 11, 1993 TAG: 9306110160
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Staff report
DATELINE: WILMINGTON, DEL. LENGTH: Medium
McCurry finished strong, earning his 13th save of the year by pitching the seventh inning of the second game of a Carolina League baseball doubleheader. The Bucs prevailed 3-2, but not before losing two games earlier in the night to the league-leading Blue Rocks.
McCurry started the night by giving up a two-run homer in the 12th inning that gave Wilmington a 7-5 victory in the completion of a game that was suspended after 11 innings Wednesday.
The Bucs had gone up 5-4 in the top of the 12th inning when Chance Sanford tripled to the wall, scoring Trace Ragland, who had reached base on a walk.
Wilmington's Brady Stewart walked to lead off the bottom of the 12th and scored on a double to right-center by Michael Tucker before Walker's homer finished it.
The Rocks then won the first game of the doubleheader, scheduled for seven innings, 2-1 in nine innings.
In the nightcap, Salem starter Esteban Loaiza pitched six innings, giving up two runs on four hits to earn the victory. Loaiza (4-3) struck out three and walked two.
"He's the best pitcher we've seen this year," Wilmington manager Ron Johnson said. "He has excellent stuff . . . That kid is going to pitch in the major leagues some day."
With the Bucs up 3-2 in the seventh, Wilmington's Hugh Walker singled to left off Loaiza and advanced to third on an error by left fielder Marcus Ponder. McCurry relieved and coaxed Jason Marshall into a grounder to end the game.
Run-producing singles by Joe Ronca and Angelo Encarnacion in the fifth inning gave the Bucs a 3-1 lead.
In the first game of the doubleheader, Salem first baseman Mike Brown hit his 12th home run of the season in the seventh inning to tie the score and send the game to extra innings.
In the ninth, with the bases loaded, Wilmington's Steve Hinton singled off Salem reliever Jason Christiansen to score Brady Stewart.
Stewart opened the inning with a single off starter Mariano De los Santos. Christiansen relieved and gave up a single to Michael Tucker. Pinch-hitter Andy Stewart flied out to deep center and Brady Stewart advanced to third. Raul Gonzalez walked to load the bases before Hinton's single to the wall in right-center field ended the game.
Brian Bevil (7-1) earned the victory for Wilmington. De los Santos (6-4) took the loss.
\ BUCSHOTS: On May 27, Salem set a club attendance record by drawing 50,000 fans in 23 home games. Previously, the fastest the Bucs had drawn 50,000 was in 28 games during the 1992 season. Salem's current home attendance is 64,219, which puts the Bucs 13,000 fans ahead of last year's record pace.
by CNB