ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, June 7, 1996 TAG: 9606070069
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: FREDERICK, MD.
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
All of a sudden, the Salem Avalanche is struggling to remain above .500 for the first half of the Carolina League baseball season.
The Frederick Keys scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning Thursday to break open a close game and knock off Salem 5-2 before a crowd of 2,349 fans at Harry Grove Stadium. (Box score in Baseball Scoreboard.)
The Avalanche (31-29), after playing well earlier in the season, has lost nine of its past 11 games and is two games above .500 with eight games remaining in the first half of the season.
With left-hander Doug Million on the mound, Salem looked to break out of its late-half swoon, but the Avalanche spotted the Keys a run in the fourth.
Eric Chavez lead off the inning with a walk and scored on Harry Berrios' double. The run snapped Million's scoreless-innings streak at 182/3 and was only the fourth earned run he had given up in his past 33 innings.
Salem tied the score in the sixth when Kyle Houser singled and John Giudice walked with two out against Frederick starter Sidney Ponson, who had retired 10 in a row to that point. Houser scored on a ground-rule double by Nate Holdren.
Frederick (28-32) broke the tie with a run in the sixth. Berrios doubled to lead off the inning, and he scored three batters later on a single by Eddy Martinez.
The Keys added three runs in the eighth inning off Luis Colmenares to build a 5-1 lead. Salem's last run came on Giudice's solo homer in the ninth.
Ponson (1-1) pitched into the ninth, giving up two runs on six hits while walking two and striking out nine. Million (5-4) took the loss, going seven innings and surrendering two runs on six hits. He walked six and struck out eight.
SNOWBALL: Houser, the Avalanche's starting shortstop, has been named to the Carolina League All-Star team. He was the only Salem player selected. Durham led all teams with six players selected.
The Carolina League All-Stars will take on the California League All-Stars on June 18 in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
LENGTH: Short : 45 linesby CNB