Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 4, 1995 TAG: 9505040131
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Sexton didn't exactly go downhill from there, either.
The shortstop, who joined the organization in a trade between the parent Colorado Rockies and the Cincinnati Reds on April 14, reached base in all five plate appearances as the Avalanche beat the Bulls 6-1 in a Carolina League baseball game before a well-chilled crowd of 922 at Municipal Field.
Sexton went 1-for-2 with three runs scored and one batted in as the Avalanche won for the fifth time in its past six games.
``My job is to get on base, and for the last week I've been getting on more because I'm being more selective at the plate,'' he said.
Sexton batted in the No.2 hole in the Winston-Salem Spirits order before moving to the top of the lineup with Salem.
``He's a disciplined hitter and he'll fill the leadoff role really well,'' said Bill Hayes, Salem's manager.
Sexton raised his batting average to .326 (15-for-46) and banged his third home run of the year, all at Salem.
``I got ahead of [pitcher Micah Bowie] 3-1 and I started thinking fastball,'' he said. ``I knew he didn't want to walk me, not with the way Vinnie Garcia is hitting behind me.
``I got a pitch in that part of the zone where I could drive it and I was fortunate enough to hit it.''
Garcia pretty much put away the game in the sixth inning when he hammered a three-run homer into the night sky beyond the left-field wall with two out. That gave the Avalanche a five-run lead, which reliever Scott Larock protected admirably with 2 1/3 scoreless innings.
The Bulls previously were bamboozled by Salem starter Doug Walls, who scattered three hits and fanned nine in 6 1/3 innings.
``I just ran out of gas then,'' Walls said. ``I tried ...''
Nobody was complaining, except perhaps the Bulls, and they were keeping it to themselves.
Walls did have three walks and a wild pitch, but two of the free passes came in the seventh as started to labor. Larock was summoned after the second. Larock went on to add five strikeouts.
Walls said he thought it was his best outing of the season.
``My fastball was moving well in and out, but that was the best curve I've had,'' he said.
EXTRA BASES: Durham manager Matt West broke his nose in two places when he was struck with a thrown ball during batting practice. He missed some of the game while being treated at Lewis-Gale Hospital. West was at second base taking throws from first when he was distracted by the crack of the bat.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
Keywords:
BASEBALL
by CNB