ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, April 20, 1996 TAG: 9604220096
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: FREDERICK, MD.
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
The Salem Avalanche started the second half of its road trip in fine fashion.
Salem exploded for four runs with two outs in the top of the eighth inning to break a 1-1 tie as the Avalanche knocked off the Frederick Keys 5-1 in a Carolina League game Friday night at Harry Grove Stadium. It was the largest margin of victory for the Avalanche this season.
Kyle Houser got things rolling for the Avalanche (8-7) with a single to lead off the eighth inning off Frederick reliever Raddy Dykhoff. John Giudice sacrificed Houser to second and Chad Gambill flew out for the second out.
Blake Barthol then singled to center to score Houser and give the Avalanche a 2-1 lead. Ronnie Hall followed with a single that scored Barthol and Pookie Jones tripled into the right-field corner to score Hall and give Salem a 4-1 lead.
John Fantauzzi added an RBI single that scored Jones with the fifth run and Steve Bernhardt grounded out to end the inning.
Salem pitching did its part as well. Starter Mike Vavrek and reliever Pat McClinton combined on a three-hitter, allowing just one run and retiring 14 of the last 15 Keys batters.
Vavrek (2-0), a left-hander, got his second consecutive win, allowing one run in seven innings while walking one and striking out five. Dykhoff (0-1) took the loss for the Keys, giving up four runs on six hits in two innings.
Salem took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning off Frederick starter Julio Moreno. Giudice walked with two outs and scored on Chad Gambill's RBI double. Moreno, though, shackled Salem for seven innings, allowing just the one run while walking two and striking out six.
Frederick (5-8) scored its only run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Tom D'Aquila led off the inning with a walk, stole second and took third on catcher Barthol's errant throw into center field. After Wady Almonte grounded out with the infield in, Andy Utting singled to score D'Aquila with the tying run. Vavrek then got Eddy Martinez to ground out and Eugene Kingsale to strike out to end the inning.
The teams meet again tonight at 7 for the second game of a three-game series. Matt Pool takes the mound for Salem with Fransisco Saneaux starting for Frederick.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Short : 50 linesby CNB