Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 7, 1994 TAG: 9406070044
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Riding two of the biggest dudes in their locker room - 6-foot-7, 255-pound right-hander John Ericks and 6-3, 220-pound outfielder Danny Clyburn - the Bucs slugged their way to a season-high fourth consecutive victory, whipping Carolina League strong boy Wilmington 6-3 on Monday night at Municipal Field.
In the league's Southern Division, where one victory constitutes NEXT UP: Salem left-hander Ted Klamm (2-5, 7.13 ERA) vs. Wilmington right-hander Jim Pittsley (5-1, 2.74) 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. a streak, the Bucs' four-game run has shoved them to 28-30 and into second place, a half-game behind Winston-Salem (28-29) and percentage points ahead of Kinston (27-29).
"I like our chances," said Salem manager Trent Jewett, whose club has won 10 of its past 15 games. "In fact, I feel great about our chances. Not long ago we were nine games under [.500]. I think .500 or one game over will win it."
Salem has five games left at home this week, then finishes the first half with six on the road. The Bucs have not had a winning half since the first half of the 1988 season.
But the way things are going in the Southern Division, still has a good chance to be a winner.
"Nobody's going to call me a loser if I've got a [Carolina League championship] ring," Jewett said.
Ericks (4-0) has been a major factor in Salem's sudden surge. The strapping right-hander went six strong innings, giving up only one earned run and striking out six. The Bucs had better ride him now, because this horse is leaving soon.
"He's out of here at the half," Jewett said. "He doesn't deserve to be here."
Ericks, sent to Salem to rehabilitate his right shoulder, put the Blue Rocks' bats in rehab.
"He's our big stud. Just glad we don't have to face him," said Salem outfielder Jake Austin, whose two-run homer in the third inning put Salem ahead to stay at 3-2.
Besides Austin's poke, Clyburn handled the remainder of the offensive chores, ripping his ninth and 10th home runs - a solo blast in the first and a towering two-run shot in the eighth that sealed the deal.
"I'm in a pretty good groove right now," said Clyburn, who has three homers and seven RBI in the last two games and 10 hits in his past 18 at-bats.
"Our offense is coming around just at the right time. We're playing hard, and I think we've got a good chance at winning this thing. We're the best team in the division right now. Right now, yeah, this is the time when you want to get hot."
\ BUCSHOTS: Marc Pisciotta came on for his league-leading 15th save, rescuing Terry Farrar with one out in the ninth. Rich Townsend, who entered the game with a 9.49 ERA, worked a solid seventh and eighth. . . . Salem third baseman Jay Cranford had a double and a triple. . . . Two of the Blue Rocks' three runs were unearned, courtesy of errors by shortstop Alan Purdy and second baseman Chance Sanford. . . . The Pittsburgh Pirates named Castlewood native Mitch House as Augusta's top player in May. House recently was promoted to Salem.
by CNB