Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, April 25, 1995 TAG: 9504260075
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: DURHAM, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
Andre King and Jamie Hicks combined to drive in seven runs, and Salem once again had defensive problems as Durham pounded the Avalanche 9-3 in a Carolina League baseball game Monday night.
The Avalanche (7-11), which has lost nine of its past 10 games, committed five errors increasing its total to 11 in the past two games. Salem also wasted another strong pitching performance, this one by Jamey Wright (1-3), who went five innings and gave up four hits and four runs - all of them unearned - while taking the loss.
The Bulls (10-8) took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Gator McBride started the inning by hitting a lazy pop-up that Salem shortstop Chris Sexton dropped. One out later, Danny Magee was hit by a pitch, putting runners on first and second. McBride scored on a double by catcher Jamie Hicks, and Magee scored on a fielder's choice grounder by Manny Jimenez. Hicks came in on a sacrifice fly by King to end the scoring for Durham in the fourth. Durham added another unearned run in the fifth to take a 4-0 lead.
Salem got on the board in the top of the sixth inning when Brian Culp went to third on a three-base error by Magee. Culp then scored on a groundout by Forry Wells to cut the Durham lead to 4-1.
The Bulls broke open the game in the bottom of the sixth. King hit a two-run single that scored Hicks and Jimenez and gave Durham a 6-1 lead. Hicks added a two-run double in the seventh as the Bulls took an 8-1 lead and never looked back.
Hicks finished 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI after driving in only two runs all season. King went 2-for-3 with four RBI - he had only three all year going into the game - and hit two sacrifice flies.
Salem added two unearned runs in the ninth when Wells scored on a Durham error and John Giudice scored on a wild pitch by Earl Nelson, who picked up the save in relief of starter Del Mathews. Mathews (2-1) went six innings and gave up one hit - a single by Yohel Pozo. Mathews has given up two hits and one unearned run in his past 14 innings. Nelson gave up the other Salem hit, which was a single by Giudice.
The loss dropped Salem 3 1/2 games behind first-place Winston-Salem and Kinston in the Southern Division. The Avalanche will send Keith Barnes (0-1) to the mound tonight against Durham starter Tommy Harrison (1-0), who is the league's ERA leader. Harrison has pitched 191/3 innings this season, giving up 12 hits and no earned runs.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
by CNB