Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 13, 1995 TAG: 9508140142
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Perhaps the team the Avalanche should be keeping a wary eye on is the one that is stalking it from the rear - the Durham Bulls.
The Bulls surged for four runs in the eighth and ninth innings Saturday night to claim a 5-2 victory before a disappointed audience of 4,178.
The Bulls, who came into Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium on Friday in last place, four games out of first and two back of second-place Salem, have won two of three from the tenants of the circuit's newest and perhaps (according to taste) most glamorous facility. They have closed to a half-game behind the Avalanche and 2 1/2 games of the tottering Indians. Kinston lost 4-1 to the Wilmington Blue Rocks and has dropped six of its past 10 games.
It was the second time in as many games the Bulls have come back to win in the latter innings. Durham was down to its last out before rallying for a 5-4 victory in the seven-inning nightcap of Friday night's doubleheader.
And that's the way it's been going for the Bulls (24-25), who have won eight of their past 10 games.
``We're not worrying what anybody else is doing,'' said one of Saturday night's heroes, third baseman John Knott. ``We're just concerned with what we're doing.''
What Knott was doing Saturday was contributing two hits - including a double - a run scored and another driven in for Durham. Knott went 2-for-3 with a walk.
``I've been trying to work out in front of the ball so I can hit down on it and get some of that backspin to keep it from hooking and sinking so much,'' he said.
Durham has drawn to one game behind Salem (25-24) while passing third-place Winston-Salem. The Warthogs (23-26) were beaten by the Prince William Cannons on Saturday. Salem stays 1 1/2 back of Kinston.
``The whole team is on a roll,'' Knott said. ``Two weeks ago, [manager] Matt West told us that we had absolutely nothing to lose, so to just go out there and try to have some fun. That's what we've been doing.''
As surely as somebody has some fun in baseball, somebody else doesn't.
``Durham executed tonight in the ninth inning just like it did last night in the seventh inning,'' said Salem manager Bill Hayes.
In the eighth inning, the Bulls broke a 1-1 tie that had stood since the second. Andre King's sacrifice fly delivered the go-ahead run. But Salem came right back against Durham reliever Lee Daniels, securing the tying run on Brian Culp's two-out RBI single.
Durham started its ninth-inning charge with a leadoff double from Wonderful Monds, then a bunt single from Miguel Correa. Randall Simon then followed by thrashing a two-run double off the distant fence in right as the right fielder, John Giudice, crashed in a heap against the wall as he tried to make the play.
``That was just great for his confidence,'' West said of Simon. ``He has been a big part of the success of this ballclub all year. I think he was pretty excited about that hit.''
Once he gathered himself, Giudice stayed in the game.
\ see microfilm for box score
by CNB