Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, August 31, 1995 TAG: 9508310092
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
``Looks like this guy wants a pitcher's duel,'' Johnson said he told himself after watching the Wilmington Blue Rocks' clever left-hander. ``I'd better turn it up a notch.''
Turn it up Johnson did, going seven strong innings to beat Byrdak and the Blue Rocks 4-1 on Wednesday night as 4,346 looked on at Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium.
Unfortunately for Salem (32-35), the practical value of the victory was limited to its educational benefits. The Avalanche was eliminated from the Carolina League's Southern Division title chase Tuesday.
The Blue Rocks (45-21) had clinched the Northern Division's second-half title long ago, but it didn't look that way based on the effort Byrdak was putting into his pitching. The 5-foot-11, 170-pounder had a no-hitter through four innings.
``He's been tough on everybody in the league,'' said Salem left-fielder Brian Culp, who went 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.
``He's not overpowering,'' said right-fielder Forry Wells, ``but he hits his spots well, keeps ahead in the count, and he lets his defense do a lot of work.''
Through four, Byrdak had put Keith Grunewald on by torpedoing him on the spine in the third and had walked Vicente Garcia in the fourth. Two balls had left the infield.
But Culp hammered a double up the middle to start the fifth, spoiling Byrdak's no-hit effort, then came home an out later on a grounder to second by Wells that turned into a two-base error.
That tied the score at 1. The deadlock was severed when Salem posted three runs on four hits and a walk in the sixth inning. Nate Holdren brought in two with a single in advance of the out he made passing Culp on the base paths. Wells then contributed a run-scoring single.
That would suffice for Johnson, who did not give up another run before giving way to Matt Aminoff to start the eighth. Johnson was the beneficiary of double plays in the fifth and sixth.
``[Catcher Yohel] Pozo called a great game behind the plate,'' Johnson said. ``He's really thinking back there. He knows what my strengths and weaknesses are and he really makes it easy for me.''
Aminoff dismissed all six he faced to close the victory.
Salem played Wilmington seven times in two weeks, going 3-4 to leave the series 11-9 in Wilmington's favor.
``Against that club, that isn't bad,'' said Salem manager Bill Hayes.
NOTES: Wells and right-hander Jamey Wright were called up to Class AA New Haven for the Eastern League playoffs. Right-hander Brent Crowther will start for Class AAA Colorado Springs this week.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
by CNB