ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, June 30, 1996 TAG: 9607010135
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KEITH POMPEY STAFF WRITER
Salem pitcher Chandler Martin will have to wait to get his first win as an Avalanche.
After going 9-0 for the Asheville Tourist earlier this season, many thought he would step in and heat up Memorial Stadium. Saturday night's performance easily could have changed their minds.
Martin (0-1) gave up 11 hits and four earned runs in his second start. And the Durham Bulls defeated the Avalanche 5-0 in front of a season-high 4,543 at Memorial Stadium. As a result, Durham is 6-3 and Salem is 4-5 heading into tonight's contest.
"I think there was a lot pressure on him," said Salem manager Bill McGuire. "Here's a guy that won his first nine games for Asheville. He just wanted to make something happen. He was a little stiff.
"But pitchers are allowed to have bad games once and a while."
Although six of his hits came in the first two innings, it wasn't all his fault. As he started to settled down, his teammates couldn't buy a hit.
After having their first two batters walked, the Avalanche struggled at the plate. Salem didn't get its first hit until Kyle Housers' single in the third.
By that time, Durham already had taken a 3-0 lead. However, Martin used Housers' hit as a motivation, retiring the next three batters he faced.
McGuire said his team's lack of offense is a tribute to Bull pitcher John Leroy (6-3).
"He has a short arm delivery," said McGuire. "That guy is an All-Star pitcher. He has great numbers. Coming in here we knew that he was going to be tough. He is one of the best pitchers in the league. Like I said, he is a All-Star."
Leroy, who's ERA was 3.05 before the game, had his way with the Salem Avalanche. And he got better as the game went along.
"He showed us a lot of great stuff out there," said Durham coach Randy Ingle . Using a fastball and a curving slider, Leroy struck out eight batters. At one point, he retired nine out of ten at the plate.
"He did a great job for us today," said Ingle.
And he wasn't alone. Leadoff batter Marc Lewis went 4-for-4 with a stolen base and scored a run. The other runs came from Luis Brito, who had two, and Sean Smith.
"I was proud of the way we came out swinging today," said Ingle. "We executed really well. It was a solid ballgame.
"You still have to give Martin credit. He showed us a lot of great stuff. Our guys were just ready for him. They had a lot of good looks. He is still a good pitcher. He can probably come back tomorrow and win."
SNOWBALL: If Salem would have won, it would have been tied for first place with Durham.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for text
LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines KEYWORDS: BASEBALLby CNB