ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, April 18, 1996 TAG: 9604180049
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WILMINGTON, DEL.
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
THE AVALANCHE gives the pitcher a surprise present by scoring seven runs en route to a win over Wilmington.
The Salem Avalanche finally scored some runs for Doug Million and the left-hander earned his first win of the season Wednesday afternoon with a 7-4 victory over the Wilmington Blue Rocks.
Million, the Colorado Rockies' first pick in the 1994 draft, allowed eight hits and four runs (three earned) in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out six batters and walked one in getting his first win in three starts this season.
Salem (7-6) had been shut out in both of Million's previous outings, but the Avalanche scored three runs in the first inning and posted another three-spot in the seventh. That was enough for Million (1-2), who was knocked out in the seventh after surrendering a two-run double to Danville native Al Shirley.
Scott LaRock relieved Million and pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings.
First baseman Nate Holdren was 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored for the Avalanche. Kyle Houser, John Giudice and Chad Gambill all had two hits and Blake Barthol knocked in three runs.
In the first, Holdren drove home Giudice, who had doubled, and later scored on Gambill's single. Barthol drew a bases-loaded walk off Wilmington starter Lance Carter.
Wilmington (4-9) scored one run in the first on Matt Smith's RBI single and another in the second on an Eddie Cedeno base hit.
Salem made it 4-2 in the fifth on a two-out base hit from Gambill that plated Houser then put away the game with a three-run seventh.
Giudice opened the inning with a triple to right-center field and scored when Holdren followed with a double. Ronnie Hall walked and Gambill moved both runners up a base with a sacrifice bunt. After Pookie Jones struck out, Barthol scored Holdren and Hall with a single.
LaRock got the Avalanche out of trouble in the seventh, then didn't allow a hit the rest of the way.
The teams complete their four-game series today with Brent Crowther pitching for Salem and Matt Saier on the mound for the Blue Rocks.
LENGTH: Short : 48 lines KEYWORDS: BASEBALLby CNB