Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 19, 1990 TAG: 9007190366
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By RAY COX SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
A solitary infield hit by Vincent Jiminez in the sixth inning and Armando Rodriguez's run-scoring sacrifice fly were all Roa needed. The right-hander held Huntington to two hits through eight innings, and Raymond Mack snuffed a ninth-inning threat as the Braves beat the Cubs 1-0 to snap a three-game losing streak.
"Roa was just awesome," said Jiminez, his catcher. "In and out, keeping the ball down, putting the ball right where I wanted it. Just awesome."
Roa improved his record to 2-0 by striking out six and staying out of trouble. The only blemish other than the two hits was a hit batter. Roa did not walk a Cub.
Roa started the ninth against the top of the Huntington order, but after leadoff man Jim Postiff reached on an error, Braves manager Randy Ingle came to get his pitcher.
"He did the right thing," Roa said. "Mack had a little more speed [on his fastball] than I did then. I wanted it, but I was getting tired."
Mack, a right-hander who had started his professional career with the Cubs when they were based in Wytheville, retired the side in order, striking out two.
"He did well in a difficult situation," Ingle said of Mack. "He used to be with the Cubs. I know he wanted in there."
It was a tough night's work for Cubs starter David Stevens, who came close to a motley no-hitter. Jiminez's shot to shortstop was one of the few balls hit hard by the Braves. Stevens (0-2) made things hard on himself with three hit batters, a wild pitch and two walks.
Jiminez had to do some serious hustling to get into position to score. Not only did he have to beat a close play at first, he had to barrel into third barely ahead of Stevens' throw on Trent Mongero's bunt.
"That surprised me," said Ingle, in the third-base coach's box at the time. "I thought they had a good shot at him, but he got down there quick. I looked up and he was there."
\ BRAVES NOTES: The Braves have a chance at revenge against the Elizabethton Twins, who are in town for two games starting tonight. The Twins, the Appalachian League's first-place team, swept the Braves last weekend in a two-game series. Left-hander Brian Bark (2-2, 2.66 ERA) will pitch tonight for Pulaski. . . . Jiminez's parents, Cande and Mary, traveled from Rockdale, Texas, for the eight-game homestand. Huntington 000000000-022 Pulaski 00000100x-112
Stevens, Taylor (7) and Postiff; Roa, Mack (9) and Jiminez. W-Roa (2-0). L-Stevens (0-2). Sv-Mack (2).
Keywords:
BASEBALL
by CNB