Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 24, 1994 TAG: 9404240247
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Jay Cranford's fielding error in the first inning provided the opportunity for four unearned Durham Bulls runs, misfortune from which the Salem Buccaneers could not recover in a 6-2 Carolina League loss before an audience of 2,234.
Alan Purdy contributed another, less damaging error in the second to give the Bucs 30 in 16 games. Salem (6-10) has lost five of six and NEXT UP: Salem right-hander Matt Chamberlain (0-2, 2.55 ERA) vs. Durham right-hander Matt Murray (0-2, 5.28). Game time is 3 p.m. Ticket prices: $5 (box); $4 (reserved); $3 (general admission); $1 off for children 12 and younger and senior citizens. seven of nine and is now back in a last-place tie with the Bulls in the Southern Division basement.
Bucs starter Sean Lawrence kept his associates in the game with five scoreless innings, retiring 10 straight at one point, but the home team was not up to a comeback.
"You hate for your starting pitcher to give up four unearned runs in the first inning then go on to pitch his tail off," Salem manager Trent Jewett said. "But we're big boys now; we can take it. Give Lawrence credit that it didn't effect him."
The Bucs marooned 10 runners and thus were not without opportunities. After getting close with single runs in the second and third innings, the best opportunity arose in the sixth when Salem loaded the bases on John Simmons, who had begun the inning in relief of starter Jamie Arnold.
Cranford, who had doubled in a run in the third, led off with a single. Jon Farrell followed by trying to bunt for a base hit, but popped it up to Simmons.
"Farrell was trying to make something happen," Jewett said. "At least he's thinking."
One out later, Purdy and Daryl Ratliff drew walks. That brought up Jeff Conger, the most effective man with the bat (.409 coming in) on the team. He glared as strike three whistled past.
Matt Byrd pitched a perfect seventh and eighth for Durham and Carl Schutz issued a leadoff walk in the ninth before erasing the last three.
Schutz's task was made easier because the Bulls kept the pressure on by scoring two more in the eighth.
"It was good to see those two extra runs," Durham manager Matt West said. "We don't get those and we have to pitch differently, play our defense differently, do a lot differently."
The game marked an awakening of sorts for Durham center fielder Damon Hollins, voted the top prospect in the Appalachian League last year after batting .321 with seven home runs and 51 runs batted in in 62 games at Danville. Hollins came in batting .193, but doubled twice, drove in a pair, and scored twice.
"Most of it was in my head," Hollins said of his slump. "I've been getting myself out a lot by not being very smart at the plate."
West doesn't expect to see much more of that.
"You're starting to see the real Damon Hollins now," he said.
\ BUCSHOTS: Bucs designated hitter Reed Secrist came in on a four-game hitting streak and was six for his last 10, but went 0-for-3 with a walk. . . . Salem is now four games under .500 (3-7) at home. . . . The Bucs fell to 2-6 in games in which which they failed to score first. . . . Farrell is four for his last 30 (.133). . . . Cranford is in a 6-for-37 slump but is 3-for-8 with four RBI in his last two games. . . . Arnold, who gave up six hits and two runs (one earned) in five innings, was the Atlanta Braves' top draft choice in 1991. . . . Lawrence has 17 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings.
by CNB