Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, May 8, 1995 TAG: 9505080118
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Staff report
DATELINE: LYNCHBURG LENGTH: Medium
When the Salem Avalanche loses a game, it usually is by one of two means - sloppy fielding or poor relief pitching.
The Lynchburg Hillcats scored five runs off four Salem relievers in an eighth-inning uprising and went on to prevent a three-game sweep by the Avalanche with an 8-6 win in a Carolina League game on Sunday afternoon. The loss ended a five-game winning streak for Salem and snapped a five-game Hillcats losing streak.
Lynchburg (15-15) trailed 6-3 when Rob Leary led off the eighth with a single against Salem reliever Jeff Sobkoviak, who came on in relief of starter Matt Pool. Sobkoviak struck out Mike Daniel, then gave up a double to Reed Secrist that scored Leary and cut the lead to 6-4. Curt Conley came on to relieve Sobkoviak and walked Ken Bonifay, putting runners at first and second with one out. Bill Bliss (1-1) then came on in relief of Conley and gave up a three-run, pinch-hit homer to Jay Knoblauh that gave Lynchburg a 7-6 lead.
After Ramon Zapata flied to center, Charles Peterson singled to left. Jeff Conger, who went 2-for-3 after being mired in a 1-for-17 slump, walked and Lou Collier singled home Peterson to give Lynchburg an 8-6 lead. Salamon came on in relief of Bliss to get the last out of the inning and end the rally.
Lynchburg took a 3-1 lead when Secrist, who went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, led off the second inning with a single. Bonifay followed with a single, and Secrist scored when Tommy Robertson grounded into a double play.
Salem (16-15) tied the score at 3 in the third when Steve Bernhardt and Edgard Velasquez scored on a Brian Culp grounder that was booted into right field by second baseman Roman Rodriguez.
The Avalanche took a 6-3 lead in the sixth when John Giudice hit his second homer of the year, a two-run shot off Lynchburg starter Chris Peters that scored Nate Holdren, who had walked to lead off the inning. Randy Snyder then doubled to finish Peters. Lynchburg brought in John Dillinger to face Chris Sexton, who singled to score Snyder and extend his hitting streak to five games.
Salem wasted a solid performance by Pool, who went seven innings and gave up three runs on nine hits.
The Avalanche has today off before starting a six-game home stand against Winston-Salem on Tuesday.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
Keywords:
BASEBALL
by CNB