Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 23, 1994 TAG: 9408230065
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By JACK BOGACZYK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
That said, the Salem second baseman has been getting smart at the plate.
Sanford started the Buccaneers' 9-2 romp over Kinston with a three-run, first-inning homer, then added an RBI single in the sixth. In the seventh, with the bases loaded, he just got under a Robert Augustine pitch and flew to deep right to end the inning.
``If the ball had been an inch farther down, I'd have hit it out,'' said the not-so-tall Texan. ``I had a good pitch to hit, the bases were loaded and, in that situation, he's going to have to throw a good pitch.''
Not that the Buccaneers needed an eight-RBI night from Sanford. After his first-inning blast over the wall in right-center - there was no could be or might be about it - Salem scored a single run in each of the next six innings, sending converted Indians outfielder Maximo De La Rosa to his ninth consecutive loss.
On the first night of what figures to be the last week of Carolina League baseball at the 67-year-old yard, Municipal Field was typically breezy. Salem - which also got a solo homer and two singles from Jeff Conger - had 11 hits but struck out 12 times. While it was wallop or whiff for the Bucs, their pitching stifled the Indians.
Salem manager Trent Jewett started Jason Abramavicius on two days' rest. The left-hander started Friday's rain-suspended game at Durham, and trailed 1-0 after two innings when the game was halted. He took the loss - his fifth in a row - then took the ball to start the final home stand of the season as Jewett treated his rain-stopped effort as his between-starts work day.
Abramavicius (4-8) pitched out of a one-out bases-loaded jam in the fourth without damage, but he left in the sixth after walking home two runs. Salem's bullpen was nothing but perfect. Manuel Santana, Terry Farrar and Sean Evans held Kinston hitless for the final 3 1/3 innings with five strikeouts.
Sanford's homer, his 18th, came on a full count - something Jewett says the second-year Bucs infielder has been helping pitchers reach.
``We talked some before the game about seeing the whole field,'' Jewett said. ``Chance has been getting to 3-1 in the count, then getting a pitch out of the zone and he swings because he thinks he can still hit it. He's a good hitter, and he's learning to be more selective. He just missed eight RBI. You can't complain about that.''
Sanford, who has hit throughout the first seven spots in the Bucs' lineup, showed his patience, too. He walked twice in addition to his run-production, and he and Conger - like Sanford back for a second tour of the league - picked a good night to find their strokes. Sanford had been hitless in his last eight at-bats. Conger came into the game in a 2-for-20 funk.
``I'm a so much more mature hitter now than I was last year here,'' Sanford said. ``I understand now about what pitch I'll see at what count. There's no use free-swinging, because if you can get someone to 2-0, he has to come in with the fastball.''
BUC SHOTS: A pregame ceremony and brief memorial service honored Alfredo Edmead, the Salem Pirates outfielder who was killed in a Municipal Field collision with teammate Pablo Cruz that occurred 20 years ago Monday night. ... Shortstop Ramon Zapata has moved up to Class AA Carolina for the second time this season. Zapata, one of eight Bucs to join the Mudcats this season, was the club's leading hitter (.293) when he left. Jewett, down to 11 position players, doesn't expect a replacement.... ... Salem first baseman Jon Farrell is 12 for his last 18. ... Among the crowd of 1,704 was Cleveland hitting instructor Charlie Manuel, home in Roanoke during the strike, who visited with Indians' farmhands before the game. ... Salem needs to average 2,497 fans over the last six games at Municipal to break last year's record attendance of 145,657.
Keywords:
BASEBALL
by CNB