Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 27, 1990 TAG: 9005270305
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHRIS BACHELDER SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
After snapping a seven-game losing steak with a victory over Lynchburg on Friday, the Bucs fell to the Red Sox 6-2 Saturday night in Carolina League baseball at Salem Municipal Field.
The Red Sox seized the lead early. Bucs starter Stan Fansler - in his first start since shoulder surgery - struggled in the first inning.
In his first game in more than a year, Fansler hit Lynchburg leadoff man Jim Byrd. He then walked Chris Leach on four pitches.
After forcing a groundout, Fansler then allowed the big hit, a three-run home run to cleanup hitter Willie Tatum to give the Red Sox all the runs they would need.
"I was nervous," Fansler said. "It's the first time I've been in this type of atmosphere in over a year."
However, after pitching out of a bases-loaded situation later in the inning, Fansler settled down, retiring the last seven Lynchburg batters he faced before heavy wind and rain forced a delay of 1 hour, 30 minutes.
"I was very happy with the way Stan pitched," said Bucs manager Stan Cliburn. "It's been a while since he's been in these circumstances. He was nervous and a bit timid in the first and it showed, but he was excellent in the third and fourth innings, and, most importantly, he threw without pain."
The Bucs cut the lead to 3-2 before the delay, as hot-hitting Darwin Pennye hit a solo homer and leadoff man Greg Sims had and RBI single.
But Lynchburg pitchers Kevin Uhrhan (2-0) and Freddie Davis, who earned his eighth save, combined to shut out the Bucs in the final five innings.
Including the efforts of Lynchburg starter Howard Landry, the three Red Sox pitchers combined to strike out 14 Bucs.
Lynchburg designated hitter Les Wallin hit a solo home run, his sixth of the season, to help pad the lead.
"I figured the rain delay might work in our favor," Cliburn said. "But you have to credit their pitching staff for throwing zeros the rest of the game.
"I see a lot of things that have improved, even in our slump. Our pitching is more aggressive. We had a meeting with the pitchers and they have responded with more drive and competitiveness.
"We had a chance to blow it open in the third inning, with the bases loaded and nobody out and we didn't capitalize.
"That's demoralizing."
With the loss, the Bucs are 16-29 this season. Lynchburg is 24-19.
The teams conclude their four-game series with a game at 2 p.m. today at Salem.
by CNB