Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, August 7, 1995                   TAG: 9508080030
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: DURHAM, N.C.                                 LENGTH: Short

BULLS WONDERFUL IN BEATING SALEM

Monds went 2-for-4 and scored a run to cap a huge series, and David Toth's three-run double in the eighth inning blew open a close game as the Durham Bulls defeated Salem 6-1 in Carolina League baseball action Sunday.

With one out in the eighth and Durham leading 2-1, Gator McBride singled and Monds, who was 5-for-9 with two homers and three RBI in the three-game series, doubled off Salem reliever Matt Aminoff to put runners at second and third. After Randall Simon was intentionally walked, John Knott hit a grounder that shortstop Chris Sexton bobbled for an error, allowing McBride to score and giving Durham a 3-1 lead.

Scott Pagano then struck out for the second out, but Toth smashed a three-run double off Forry Wells' glove in left field to give the Bulls a commanding 6-1 lead.

Durham (18-24) took an early 2-0 lead in the fourth inning off Salem starter Brent Crowther when Andre King led off with a walk and McBride, who was 2-for-4 with two RBI, followed with a two-run homer. Despite allowing the home run, Crowther (2-4) pitched well for Salem, giving up just two runs on two hits while walking four and striking out three.

Salem (22-20) cut the lead to 2-1 on Nate Holdren's 14th homer, a solo shot in the fifth, but Durham starter Jamie Arnold, the current LSU quarterback, slammed the door. Arnold (4-9) went 72/3 innings and gave up one run on three hits while walking one and striking out two.