ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, September 2, 1996 TAG: 9609030159
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
Even when his pitches were being rendered into mere vapor trails in Colorado Springs, even when he was trying to get hitters out in Class A ball, David Nied never let go of one thought.
``I always considered myself a big-league pitcher,'' he said.
Beginning today, he is.
Once again.
Nied knew he was going back to the major leagues even before he showed he deserved another shot by firing a five-hit shutout at Lynchburg to win 3-0 in the first game of a doubleheader Sunday at Memorial Stadium. Salem completed the sweep when Scott LaRock (3-2) pitched six strong innings in the Avalanche's 6-1 victory in the nightcap before 4,526 fans.
Since Wilmington swept a pair from Frederick to go one game up on the Hillcats, Lynchburg (38-31) faces a must-win today in the season finale and needs a Wilmington loss to force a one-game playoff for the division title.
``I knew this was a big game,'' said Nied. ``They're playing for a championship.''
It was just as big for Nied. Four years after the Colorado Rockies used the first pick of the 1992 expansion draft to select the right-hander, three years after he pitched the first game in Rockies history when he faced Dwight Gooden and the New York Mets, one year after making his last big-league appearance and 33 days after hitting rock bottom when he was sent to Salem, Nied will complete his long road back to the majors this week when the Rockies expand their roster for the stretch run.
``This was a pretty good way to end,'' said Nied, who went 3-3 with a 2.84 ERA for a Salem team that has been virtually out of playoff contention since he arrived.
``It's been not so good of a year for me. I don't know how I'll be used [in Colorado]. I'm sure it'll be out of the bullpen. I just hope I can help.''
Then, remembering the thin-aired launching pad known as Coors Field, he added with a chuckle: ``There are always plenty of opportunities to pitch in Colorado.''
Tal Light hit a two-run homer in the first game off Todd Blyleven (2-1) and added a solo shot off Neal McDade (0-1) in the second game.
The promotion caught Nied off guard. He was planning to fly to Denver to help his wife, Malissa, pack for the couple's move to Dallas. Instead, he'll fly to Denver today and join the Rockies in Pittsburgh on Tuesday.
``She'll have to pack by herself,'' he said.
A month ago, there were some who believed Nied would be packing it in. Ligament trouble in his right elbow marooned him in the minors for most of 1995 and this season.
``This kid has been through a lot,'' said Salem pitching coach Bill Champion, one of those Nied credits with helping him get back on track. ``A lot of guys would've said, `Hell with it' and gone home and raised a family. He's made it back.''
In a clubhouse where it's become commonplace for big leaguers to traipse - Larry Walker, Bill Swift and Eric Young have pulled rehabilitation stints in Salem - the Avalanche players were genuinely glad to see Nied get another shot.
Despite having a 17-16 major-league record, Nied, too, will feel like a wide-eyed, big kid making his first trip to a big-league park.
``Back in '92, I took things for granted,'' he said. ``I knew I had a job. I told my dad a month ago that if I make it back, I'll feel good about how hard I've worked. Everything will have been worth it.''
Sunday, he retired the first 11 batters before yielding back-to-back hits to Chad Hermansen and Jose Guillen. In the fifth, Ramon Martinez hit into a 4-6-3 double play with two on.
``I didn't want to go out bad,'' he said. ``People have been great to me here and the players have been great. Things happen for a reason. It felt great going out like this.''
see microfilm for box score
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines KEYWORDS: BASEBALLby CNB