Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 18, 1995 TAG: 9506210035
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: E-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Salem Avalanche stayed the course Saturday night as 6-foot-5 pitcher Jamey Wright and his whip of a right arm left the Frederick Keys' bats mostly becalmed. The Avalanche won for the third time in its past four games by stopping the Keys 4-3 before 2,721 appreciative witnesses at balmy Municipal Field.
``I'm hoping we can parlay this into a good start in the second half,'' said Salem manager Bill Hayes.
The victory was not secured until Wright pitched his way out of a bases-loaded pickle in the eighth and reliever Bill Bliss buzzed Frederick with a 1-2-3 ninth to record his third save.
Salem won its fifth consecutive decision over Frederick at Municipal Field and is 6-3 against the Keys for the year moving into today's finale of the first half of the season.
Wright has had a strong right hand and arm in a substantial portion of that success, going 3-0 against the Keys (27-40).
``I throw a lot of fastballs because that's what seems to work against these guys,'' said Wright, who grudgingly gave up seven hits in eight innings. ``I throw them a lot of two-seam fastballs and they don't seem to be able to get the fat part of the bat on the ball. That means a lot of ground balls.''
Broken down, Wright's efforts amounted to 14 ground-ball outs, four strikeouts and three walks. Wright, a No.1 draft choice of the Colorado Rockies a couple of years ago, improved his record for the campaign to 8-4.
``Jamey threw well,'' said Salem pitching coach Bill Champion.
Even so, there never was any thought of bringing him back for the ninth so that he could attempt to close his first complete game of the season.
``He had thrown 111 pitches,'' Champion said. ``His limit was 120. I don't think he's gone through an inning in his life on nine pitches.''
Besides, Bliss was breathing fire in the bullpen.
``He didn't fool around,'' Champion said.
Bliss fanned Todd Brown looking, popped up Trovin Valdez to the catcher and coaxed a fly to left out of Rolando Avila to put a cork in a 2-hour, 41-minute affair.
The Keys made it a little more difficult for Wright in his last inning of toil. An error by Chris Sexton at shortstop and a single by Chris Kirgan followed by a David Lamb sacrifice had runners at second and third with none out. Then, Hayes called for the intentional walk to Tommy Davis, the first of three consecutive pinch hitters.
Wright froze Jim Foster on an 0-2 count with a diabolical fastball on the outside corner of the plate for the second out.
``He wasn't looking fastball 0-2, I don't think,'' Wright said.
Then another two-seamer and Jesse Garcia dribbled one lamely to second.
``Real confidence-builder,'' Wright said.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
by CNB