ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, August 16, 1996 TAG: 9608160061
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR.
The Salem Avalanche will be able to send two former major-league pitchers to the mound tonight against the Prince William Cannons, when Colorado Rockies right-hander Bill Swift begins his rehabilitation at Salem Memorial Stadium.
Swift, who is scheduled to make two starts in Salem, will be on a 45-pitch count tonight and will be relieved by former Rockies hurler David Nied. The pair has a combined 95 major-league victories, 78 by Swift.
The one-time Seattle Mariner and San Francisco Giant is scheduled to start against Durham on Wednesday, an outing that will last no more than 60 pitches.
Swift, 34, is the third big-leaguer to rehab in Salem this year and the second to do so in the past eight days. All-Star outfielder Larry Walker played two games in Salem last week, and All-Star second baseman Eric Young was here in April.
After winning 48 games the past four seasons, Swift has been limited to 3 1/3 innings this season because of shoulder problems.
Swift's best season was 1993 with San Francisco, when he was 21-8 with a 2.82 ERA and finished second in the National League Cy Young Award balloting behind Greg Maddux. His 2.08 ERA led the NL in 1992, his first year as a starter and first in the NL after being traded from the Mariners along with Mike Jackson and Dave Burba for Kevin Mitchell. He was a teammate of Salem manager Bill McGuire, then a catcher in the Seattle organization, in 1988 and '89.
In parts of nine seasons, Swift is 78-62 with a 3.62 ERA.
LENGTH: Short : 36 linesby CNB