Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 21, 1995 TAG: 9506210125
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARK BULLOCK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Million, the top choice of the parent Colorado Rockies in the 1994 draft, earned his first victory of the season Tuesday night as the Avalanche held off Durham 6-5 at Municipal Field.
It wasn't a spectacular outing, but it was memorable for Million (1-3), who gave up four runs on seven hits, struck out four and walked four in 61/3 innings. He lost the lead twice, but picked up the victory when Brian Culp broke a 4-4 tie with a run-producing single in the sixth inning.
``I feel like a big weight has been lifted,'' Million said. ``I had been struggling, and I was getting frustrated.''
Million was making his ninth start of the season, but had only three decisions. He spent three weeks on the disabled list in May with shoulder stiffness and entered Tuesday's game with a 5.82 ERA.
``The first half of the season was tough,'' he said. ``I had never had stuff like that happen to me before. I felt like the team was going out there with four starters and then me.''
The left-hander was rescued from a first-inning jam by a double-play grounder to shortstop Chris Sexton, who had three hits for the Avalanche. Million worked out of a pickle in the fourth inning by striking out two after the Bulls scored once and had runners on second and third with no outs.
Million was staked to a 2-1 lead when Edgard Velasquez tripled home two runs in the third inning, and had a 4-2 lead after Keith Grunewald belted a two-run homer in the fourth. Wildness got Million in trouble in the fifth, though, and the Bulls tied the score with a pair of runs on two walks, a wild pitch and one hit - a double by designated hitter John Knott, who had three hits and three runs batted in for Durham.
``That's hurt me a lot,'' Million said of his control problem. ``I was plagued by wildness in the first half. I need to get my control back.''
Culp's two-out hit in the sixth inning plated catcher Mike Higgins, who doubled twice and scored the eventual winning run in the eighth inning on a squeeze bunt executed perfectly by Sexton.
EXTRA BASES: Both starting pitchers were former No.1 draft choices. Durham's Jamie Arnold (2-5) gave up 10 hits in 51/3 innings. ... All the outs in the Durham third inning were ground balls to Sexton.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
by CNB