ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, May 31, 1996 TAG: 9605310030
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
Despite a rugged trip that resulted in five losses in nine games and a current four-game losing streak, the wheels did not fall off the Salem Avalanche bus on the team's return home.
Sixteen games remain in the first half of the Carolina League season for Salem, 12 of them in the spacious surroundings of Memorial Stadium including tonight's game against the Frederick Keys that kicks off a six-game homestand.
Heading into Thursday's games, Salem (29-24), trailed Southern Division-leading Durham by 11/2 games. The Bulls were entertaining Kinston in a doubleheader Thursday while the Avalanche had the day off.
``I said awhile back that if we could come back on the 30th [of May] and still be within a couple of games [of first place], we'd still have a chance to win it,'' said Bill McGuire, the Avalanche's manager. ``We're still in it. We control our own destiny. That's all you can ask.''
Actually, McGuire would have liked to ask his team to clean up some spotty play on the trip. In most of the losses, a different aspect of Salem's game broke down, whether it was the bullpen surrendering leads in the eighth or ninth inning of three games or the offense failing to come through in clutch situations (such as in the eighth inning of an eventual 6-5 loss to Wilmington on Tuesday).
``We've been finding ways to lose,'' McGuire said.
Where better to turn things around than at home, where the Avalanche is 16-8 this season.
Win or lose, tonight will be a celebratory occasion in Salem. Memorial Stadium, which opened in August, will be dedicated officially in a ceremony beginning at 6 p.m. and featuring the unveiling of the Salem Veterans Memorial.
Gates open at 5:45 p.m. for the pregame ceremony. A postgame fireworks display will be provided by the City of Salem.
PENA OUT, GRUNEWALD BACK: Second baseman Keith Grunewald has returned from Class AA New Haven (Conn.), to replace Elvis Pena, who fell ill in Wilmington and was hospitalized.
McGuire said Pena has a ``serious virus'' and may not be able to play the remainder of this half-season.
Grunewald, who played for Salem last season, was batting .237 in 37 games as the Ravens' third baseman.
``With Elvis out, getting Keith Grunewald from Double-A helps us out a lot,'' McGuire said. ``He's a guy who can play second base or third and give some guys a break.''
LENGTH: Medium: 53 linesby CNB