ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, July 1, 1996 TAG: 9607010103
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
In a game featuring 19 runs and 25 hits, it would be easy to forget the performance of any pitcher, much less a guy who wasn't around after the sixth inning.
However, Stephen Shoemaker's strong start for the Salem Avalanche in its 11-7 victory over the Durham Bulls on Sunday should not be overlooked. Even though he didn't factor in the decision - and despite the fact that an eight-run Avalanche landslide in the fifth sealed the victory - Shoemaker's nine-strikeout, five-inning start was cause for celebration in the Salem clubhouse.
``Shoemaker was the key to that game,'' said Bill McGuire, the Avalanche's manager. ``That should be part of the story.''
Shoemaker, who lasted only three innings against Prince William in his last start, gave up five hits and three runs. When lifted after nearing his 90-pitch limit with two men on in the sixth, Shoemaker was ahead 3-2. Durham took the lead against reliever Jeff Sobkoviak, who wound up the winner after the Avalanche scored eight times in the bottom of the inning.
Shoemaker, the hardest thrower on the Avalanche staff, regularly delivered his fastball at 92 mph and hit 95 a couple of times. After walking five in three innings last week, he walked only one and allowed three runs on five hits.
``I felt more comfortable tonight,'' said Shoemaker, making his second start since a groin injury and only his fifth start overall since Luther Hackman was disabled. ``I hadn't pitched in 15 days [since the injury]. Tonight, I was comfortable and got my fastball over.''
Shoemaker also was juiced after meeting with Colorado Rockies general manager Bob Gebhard, who was in town last week.
``He said he liked my arm, but that I needed to develop an off-speed pitch,'' said Shoemaker, who augmented his fastball with a curve and slider. ``He said I needed another pitch to throw for strikes.''
The victory moved Salem (5-5) within a game of the first-place Bulls (6-4) in the Carolina League's Southern Division and gave the Avalanche a 4-3 record on its seven-game homestand.
Salem has won just six of its past 17 home games and won't have a chance to add to the total for 19 days. The Avalanche will be displaced by the Salem Fair for nearly three weeks and will play its next 16 games on the road beginning today at Winston-Salem.
``We'll be playing in some small parks, so, hopefully, we'll hit some home runs,'' said Salem's Nate Holdren. ``If we come out .500 or better on this trip, I'll be pleased. It's going to be an important time.''
Holdren led off Salem's fifth with his ninth homer of the year that tied it at 4 and ignited a rally that saw 12 men come to the plate. Two batters later, Blake Barthol hit a two-run homer to make it 6-4. Another run scored on Kyle Houser's bunt that sailed over the pitcher's mound to make it 7-4, John Giudice had a two-run single (one of his three hits in the game) and Tal Light later rapped a two-run double, his first extra-base hit in a Salem uniform.
It was Holdren's first homer since June 10 and it came on a hanging curve ball from Micah Bowie (3-6).
``It was gift-wrapped,'' Holdren said.
Holdren, Houser and Pookie Jones had two hits for Salem and Doug Walls pitched three innings to record the save.
Danny Magee had two hits for Durham, including a two-run homer.
SNOWBALL: Left-hander Mike Vavrek (6-4, 4.29 ERA) starts for the Avalanche tonight at Winston-Salem. Right-hander Clint Koppe (8-2, 3.30) goes for the Warthogs.
LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines KEYWORDS: BASEBALLby CNB