Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 27, 1990 TAG: 9004270287
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN SMALLWOOD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
But just when the Bucs seemed to have things running smoothly, they blew a couple of cylinders and everything came to a screeching halt.
Taking advantage of Salem's loss of horsepower, the Kinston Indians roared back to an 8-7 victory Thursday night in Carolina League baseball at Municipal Field.
Kinston (11-4) cut into a 6-0 Bucs lead with three unearned runs in the sixth. The Indians blew past Salem with four runs in the seventh, highlighted by second baseman Rouglas Odor's three-run homer.
The Bucs pulled even with a run in the eighth, but Odor doubled off Salem reliever Jeff Neely (0-1) with two out in the ninth to score Ken Ramos.
Former Salem Redbird Greg Ferlenda shut down the Bucs in the ninth to pick up his fourth save and preserve the victory for Will Vespe (2-2).
"That happened three times out of four games in Kinston," said Salem manager Stan Cliburn, referring to the Indians' comeback. "We let them have big innings and it hurt us. We got up 6-0, and I had a feeling that wasn't going to be enough. We just let this one get away."
Salem (7-8) got off to a quick start when Greg Sims stroked Kinston starter Tim Ellis' first pitch into left field for a single. Sims scored on a double by Bruce Schreiber.
The Bucs added a run in the second. They scored four runs in the third, including right fielder Chris Estep's third two-run homer in two nights, to lead 6-0.
Again, however, hard luck struck Salem pitcher Paul Miller, who has given up just three earned runs in three starts.
An error by second baseman Rob Bailey opened the door for Kinston's three-run sixth. Miller left the game leading 6-3 but remained without a decision this season.
"Our middle relief hasn't been getting the job done," Cliburn said.
\ BUCSHOTS: Salem's Steve Buckholz (2-1) will face Jerry Dipoto (2-0) as the Bucs and Indians play the second game of the series tonight.
\ KINSTON SALEM ab r h bi ab r h bi Odor 2b5124 Sims cf5110 Allison rf4120 Schreiber 3b5011 Gomez 3b5112 Merejo lf5110 Levis dh3011 Morrison dh3120 Tepper 1b3000 Romero c3100 Lane cf3120 Shelton 1b3111 Johnson c4000 Estep rf2222 Ramos lf4321 Huyler ss4000 Foster ss3110 Bailey 2b2001 Hines ph1011 Williams 2b0000 Totals34 8 11 8 Totals 33 7 9 6
Kinston000 003 401-8 Salem114 000 010-7
E-Bailey, Johnson, Gomez. DP-Kinston 1, Salem 3. LOB-Kinston 4, Salem 7. 2B-Schreiber, Odor, Allison, Ramos. 3B-Gomez, Lane. HR-Estep (4), Odor (1). SB-Odor (3), Allison (2), Lane (5), Sims (5), Merejo (3), Morrison (1), Estep (1). S-Foster. SF-Bailey, Shelton. IP HRERBBSO Kinston Ellis 486620 Neill 300021 Vespe W,2-2 111111 Ferlenda S,4 100010 Salem Miller 664111 McDowell 33302 Neely L,0-1 221123
Ellis pitched to two batters in fifth.
HBP-Levis by Miller. W-Vespe. PB-Johnson.
Umpires-Home, Irvin; bases, Vestal.
T-2:56. A-1,457.
by CNB