Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, April 17, 1995 TAG: 9504170098
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARK BULLOCK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Don't try that one on Salem Avalanche manager Bill Hayes.
A mental error by Salem third baseman Pedro Carranza opened the floodgates Sunday as Prince William defeated the Avalanche 8-4 in Carolina League baseball at Municipal Field.
The Cannons sent 10 men to the plate in the fifth inning and scored six runs to break open the game.
It was the second consecutive loss for the Avalanche and negated a solid pitching performance by starter Doug Million, who struck out nine Cannons in 4 2/3 innings and left the game trailing 2-1.
The damage was done when Carranza fielded a grounder by Jeff Abbott and hesitated throwing to second base for a forceout. His eventual throw to first was too late to get Abbott, which seemed innocent enough when Million struck out the next batter for the second out of the inning. As it turned out, the trouble was just beginning.
Cannons right fielder Andre Newhouse singled up the middle to produce a run and chase Million.
Reliever Neil Garrett inherited runners on first and third, and promptly hit the first batter he faced to load the bases. Successive walks forced in a pair of runs, and Wil Polidor cleared the bases with a triple into the right-field corner. Before the dust had cleared, the Cannons led 7-1 and were on their way to their seventh victory in 10 games.
The beneficiary of the outburst was Prince William starter Tom Fordham (3-0), who until that point had been locked in a good battle with Million (0-1), the No.1 draft choice of the parent Colorado Rockies in 1994. Fordham, the winner over Salem in the season opener, scattered six hits and surrendered one run, on an RBI single by Mark Wells in the fourth inning.
Wells had three hits for the Avalanche, including a solo home run in the ninth inning, his second in as many games and fourth of the season.
``I've been getting some good swings lately,'' Wells said. ``I was committing to the pitches too early, but I've been working on waiting on the ball and it's helping out a lot.''
One thing that hasn't been helping the Avalanche is shoddy defense. Salem has committed 19 errors in 10 games. Five runs scored after Carranza's miscue.
``They gave us an out and we didn't take it,'' Hayes said. ``That's all it took. They took advantage of the mistake and capitalized on it.''
Garrett didn't endear himself to his manager by hitting the No.8 hitter with a pitch after getting ahead in the count, then walking the next two batters.
``He wasn't aggressive,'' Hayes said. ``He nibbled around and it cost him. Hopefully, he'll learn from that.''
Middle relief has been inconsistent thus far for the Avalanche, and Hayes hopes someone will emerge soon as a steady performer. With the starters on a pitch count, middle relief is a crucial role on the pitching staff.
``The problem is, who's going to show up?'' Hayes said. ``We know we have some starters who can keep us in the game. We want somebody who can come out of the bullpen and do a job for us.''
EXTRA BASES: Second baseman Vincente Garcia continues to swing a hot bat for Salem. He had two doubles Sunday and is batting .313. ... First baseman/catcher Jason Smith was hit by a ball and suffered a broken right collarbone while warming up a pitcher in the bullpen Saturday night. He will be sidelined for four to six weeks. ... Matt Pool (1-1) makes his third start of the season tonight in the first game of a three-game series with Kinston at Municipal Field. Tony Runion (0-2) will pitch for the Indians. ... Paul Egins, the Colorado Rockies' assistant director of player personnel, was in attendance Sunday.
see microfilm for box score
by CNB