ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, May 21, 1996 TAG: 9605210090
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: LYNCHBURG
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
If only things could be this easy all the time for Salem pitcher Doug Million.
The Salem Avalanche staked Million to an early nine-run lead and the young left-hander took care of business as Salem smoked the Lynchburg Hillcats 11-1 in a Carolina League baseball game at City Stadium.
It capped a big night for Salem, which is percentage points behind Winston-Salem in the Southern Division standings. Earlier, the Avalanche finished off a 3-2 victory over the Hillcats in a game that had been suspended by thunderstorms on May 5 in Salem with the two clubs tied at 2.
Million (4-3) went seven strong innings and gave just one run on five hits while walking two and striking out seven. Lynchburg starter Jason Johnson (0-2) took the loss, going four innings and giving four runs on five hits.
Salem (26-19) tacked on two runs in the third on an RBI single by Elvis Pena and an RBI sacrifice bunt by Kyle Houser, who drove in three runs in the game. The Avalanche added two more runs in the fourth on back-to-back RBI doubles by Blake Barthol and Brian Culp for a 4-0 lead.
Salem then buried the Hillcats by sending 11 men to the plate in a five-run fifth. Will Scalzitti's two-run double gave the Avalanche a 6-0 lead. RBI singles by Chad Gambill, Brian Culp and Pena made it 9-0.
Houser added a two-run single in the seventh after Lynchburg (19-24) had scored its lone run in the sixth for the final outcome.
The two teams meet again tonight at 7.
LENGTH: Short : 39 linesby CNB