ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, May 6, 1996 TAG: 9605060146
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
RAIN FORCES THE SUSPENSION of the Salem Avalanche's game against the Lynchburg Hillcats with the score tied at 2 in the eighth inning.
First, the WDBJ (Channel 7) camera crew gave up. Then, all but a scattering of an announced audience of 4,271 made for the exits. Finally, the Carolina League plate umpire threw up his hands.
So came the soggy finale to a 2-2 deadlock Sunday between the host Salem Avalanche and the Lynchburg Hillcats, an affair stopped because of rain with one on and none out in the top of the eighth inning. There it will resume as part of a doubleheader in Lynchburg on May 20.
The game was a rare (for the Carolina League) televised affair. Additional television for the resumption would appear to be unlikely.
Salem was coaxing Lynchburg along to what could have been its 10th consecutive loss with a 2-0 lead through five. The Hillcats tied it in the sixth when Freddy Garcia, a Rule 5 draft selection who spent the entire 1995 season on the Pittsburgh Pirates' roster, clubbed a one-out, two-run homer off Mike Vavrek.
In the middle of the inning, a thunderstorm halted proceedings for 46 minutes. When the teams returned to action, they played a little more than 11/2 more innings before more rain and lightning forced the issue.
Jose Guillen had singled off Salem's Todd Genke with no outs when play was halted.
LENGTH: Short : 35 linesby CNB