Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, July 28, 1995 TAG: 9507280103
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JAMES C. BLACK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Prince William scored five runs in the last three innings and Salem stranded 12 baserunners as the Cannons defeated the Avalanche 8-5 in a Carolina League game at Salem Municipal Stadium on Thursday night. Prince William (13-20) won the season series from Salem13-7.
Prince William trailed 4-1 after five innings but scored the next eight runs.
The Cannons scored twice in the sixth inning and once in the seventh to tie the score at 4. Prince William was threatening for more, but Salem starting pitcher Brent Crowther got clean-up hitter Paul Gonzales to strike out with the bases loaded.
Newly-signed Avalanche, Chris Stewart, made his debut in the eighth inning.
Stewart walked Robert Machado to lead off the inning and got Magglio Ordonez to line out to shortstop. But on an intentional walk to Juan Thomas, the ball got away from catcher Will Scalzitti, allowing Machado to advance to third. Machado scored and Thomas went to third on Joe Durso's single. Thomas scored on Andre Newhouse's sacrifice fly to center field, the last batter Stewart would face. Reliever Curt Conley got Sandy McKinnon to fly out to center field to end the inning.
The Cannons then added two insurance runs in the ninth inning on back-to-back, run-scoring doubles by Machado and Ordonez.
Salem (17-15) scored once in the inning, on a solo home run by Brian Culp, his first of the season, but couldn't pose a big enough rally to earn a sweep of Prince William. Jason Pierson (5-3) pitched 22/3 innings for the win and Archie Vasquez pitched the final 11/3 innings for his 17th save of the season.
Nate Holdren hit his 11th homer of the season and third in two games to give Salem a 2-0 lead in the first. The Avalanche scored again on a triple by Chris Sexton to bring across Colin Dixon in the second inning.
Next for the Avalanche are the Kinston Indians, percentage points behind Salem going into Thursday's game. The probable starters for tonight are Kinston's right-hander Tony Runion (6-8, 4.19) and Salem's lefty Doug Millon (3-4, 5.53).
NOTES: The delivery of the railings to the new Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium began Thursday and are expected to continue today ... Colorado Rockies owner Jerry McMorris and general manager Bob Gebhard are expected to attend Saturday's Salem-Kinston game at Municipal Stadium. The two will visit Salem as part of their trip to the Rockies' East Coast farm teams... Rick Heiserman, originally slated to start for the Indians tonight, was involved in the St.Louis Cardinals-Cleveland trade for Ken Hill.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
by CNB