ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, August 25, 1996 TAG: 9608270030
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-7 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
A PAIR OF HOME RUNS and a solid pitching effort carry the Avalanche to a 5-3 victory.
Stephen Shoemaker pitched six shutout innings and Salem used the long ball to jump out to an early lead as the Avalanche downed the Winston-Salem Warthogs 5-3 in a Carolina League game Saturday night at Ernie Shore Field.
Shoemaker (2-6), a right-hander, allowed just three hits, walked six and struck out 11 - a season-high for any Avalanche pitcher. Jeff Sobkoviak allowed a run in the ninth but picked up his eighth save. (Box score in Baseball Scoreboard. C6)
The Avalanche (25-33) jumped out to an early three-run lead. Tal Light got things started in the second with a solo homer off Winston-Salem starter Justin Atchley (2-3) to give Salem a 1-0 lead. It was Light's second homer in as many days and his 10th as an Avalanche player.
Salem added two more runs in the third. Pookie Jones singled to lead off the inning and Mike Higgins followed with a two-run blast over the left-field wall.
The Warthogs (31-29) cut into the lead in the seventh off Salem reliever David Lee. D.C. Conner singled to bring in James Lofton, and Andre King scored on the same play on a throwing error by Chan Mayber to cut the lead to 3-2.
But the Avalanche answered with two runs in the eighth. Mayber walked to lead off the inning, stole second and scored on a single by Elvis Pena to make the score 4-2. Later in the inning, Kyle Houser scored on a single by Blake Barthol for a 5-2 lead. It was Barthol's 65th RBI of the season.
Winston-Salem tried to rally in the ninth. Yuri Sanchez walked to lead off the inning and Jason Parsons singled one out later. Conner grounded into a fielder's choice and Sanchez scored on a throwing error after the Avalanche attempted a double play. Sobkoviak then got Marlon Allen to fly out to end the game.
LENGTH: Short : 44 lines KEYWORDS: BASEBALLby CNB