Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, April 19, 1994 TAG: 9404190102
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Due in no small part to a crumbling defense responsible for five errors and four stolen bases, the Bucs were hammered 10-2 by the Wilmington Blue Rocks in a Carolina League blowout in front of 3,365 witnesses at Municipal Field.
"The defense was bad," Salem manager Trent Jewett said. "It's been decent this year - not flawless (15 errors in 10 games coming in) - but as a whole, it's been decent."
Not Monday. At times, it looked like a bunch of guys tossing around a bar of soap in the shower. Three Blue Rocks runs were unearned.
"Any time you have five errors, it's going to be hard to win," Wilmington manager Mike Jirschele said. "But the way I look at it, you have to put the ball in play to make things happen. That's what we did."
The Rocks raked Salem pitching for 11 hits, but starter Dave Doorneweerd kept the Bucs close through five innings. Doorneweerd, a starter here a year ago but now in long relief, was getting a starting spot because the rotation had gotten out of whack because of a weather-related doubleheader last Friday.
Doorneweerd struck out seven and walked one while surrendering three runs (two earned).
Matters unraveled in the sixth and seventh innings when reliever Damon Allen, the moonlighting Canadian Football League quarterback, was roughed up for six runs (four earned) on four hits, two walks, and a hit batter.
"He was trying to overthrow and got away from the game plan," pitching coach Dave Rajsich said. "That'll happen when you have a pitcher who has as little experience as he does."
Wilmington got a lot out of the lower half of the order. John Dempsey, Andy Stewart, Ramon Martinez and Felix Martinez - batters six through nine - combined for seven hits, five runs scored, and five runs batted in. Stewart had a solo home run off Ted Klamm in the ninth and Felix Martinez swiped three bases.
Most of the rest of the story for the Rocks was starting pitcher Kris Ralston, who scattered five hits over six innings, allowing one run.
"I was trying to keep the ball NEXT UP: Salem right-hander Matt Chamberlain (0-2, 2.53 ERA) vs. Wilmington right-hander Mike Bovee (1-0, 0.00) at Municipal Field. Game time is 7 p.m. Ticket prices: $5 (box); $4 (reserved); $3 (general admission); $1 off for children 12 and younger and senior citizens. down in the zone," he said. "I've had trouble throwing it high. Some of my pitches were high tonight, but nothing like the last time out."
Ralston said he considers himself more of a groundball-type pitcher, but he was tickled with six strikeouts.
"I've been working on a new pitch, a forkball, and I used that for half the strikeouts I had," he said. "When they start looking for that as my strikeout pitch, then I can come back with another pitch they're not looking for."
Wilmington hasn't enjoyed many nights like this so far. The Rocks have been in a lot of close games.
"I told the guys before the game not to be afraid to have an easy one sometime," Jirschele said. "Every night, my stomach's been turning."
\ BUCSHOTS: Jeff Conger is on the disabled list for an uncertain duration with sore ribs. Although Conger is not believed to be hurt badly, Jewett said the step has been taken as a precaution. . . . Jon Farrell was out of the lineup as he tried to shake off a case of the hives. He's expected back tonight. . . . Danny Clyburn went 4-for-4 - all singles - in only his second outing of the year. "Good to have him back in there," Jewett said. "He can change a game with one swing of the bat."
Keywords:
BASEBALL
by CNB