
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, August 20, 1993                   TAG: 9308200146
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Staff report
DATELINE: WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.                                LENGTH: Short

RONCA'S HOMER SENDS BUCCANEERS TO 4-2 WIN

Joe Ronca blasted a two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning to give the Salem Buccaneers a 4-2 Carolina League victory over the Winston-Salem Spirits on Thursday night.

Ronca scored Salem's first run in the second inning. Ronca walked, stole second and came home when Winston-Salem second baseman Chris Gill threw wildly to third on a ground ball hit by Don Garvey.

Right fielder Jeff Conger knocked in Salem's second run in the sixth, when he hit a ground-rule double over the right-field fence to send home Alan Purdy.

With the score tied at 2 in the ninth inning, Salem shortstop Kevin Polcovich singled to center field. After Winston-Salem retired Ramon Espinosa and Mike Brown, Ronca smashed a 2-2 pitch for his 11th home run of the season.

Troy Mooney started the bottom of the ninth for the Bucs, but he hit Cleveland Ladell. Marc Pisciotta then came on to get the final three batters, recording his seventh save.

\ BUCSHOTS: Marty Neff, whose summer has included a promotion to Class AA Carolina and a return trip to Salem, was suspended earlier this week and sent home for the rest of the year. "He was having a little attitude problem and it was affecting him and it was affecting the team," manager Scott Little said. "We only have 16 games left and we didn't need that. This year has been hard enough as it is." Neff's future with the organization has yet to be determined, Little said.

Keywords:
BASEBALL

by CNB