ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, June 4, 1996 TAG: 9606040066
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS
Former Ferrum College standout Billy Wagner is getting his major-league break at the expense of big-contract pitcher Greg Swindell.
Three disappointing seasons after signing Swindell to a $17 million contract, the Houston Astros cut their losses Monday by releasing the left-hander and promoting Wagner.
Wagner, 24, was called up from Triple-A Tucson, where he was 6-2 with a 3.28 ERA in 12 starts. Wagner struck out 86 batters in 74 innings for Tucson this season.
Swindell, 31, lost back-to-back games and had an 11.37 ERA in a pair of relief appearances for the Astros last week after returning from a groin injury. He had been dismal in four starts before the injury, going 0-1 with 13 earned runs in 71/3 innings.
``This has never happened to me,'' a choked-up Swindell told reporters after he was cut. ``It's hard to take.''
Swindell signed as a free agent with the Astros before the 1993 season after spending the previous year in Cincinnati. He posted a 30-34 record with a 4.48 ERA in three seasons with Houston.
In releasing the pitcher, the Astros resigned themselves to swallowing the rest of his $4.45 million salary for this season and getting nothing in return.
MINOR BREAKTHROUGH: Pamela Davis thought she had realized her dream of playing professional baseball when she earned a spot on the Colorado Silver Bullets' women's team.
It's not about to stop there.
Davis is scheduled to pitch tonight for the Double-A Jacksonville (Fla.) Suns, an affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, in an exhibition game against the Australian Olympic team, becoming the first woman to play for a major-league farm club.
LENGTH: Short : 47 lines KEYWORDS: BASEBALLby CNB