
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, July 31, 1993                   TAG: 9307310229
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Staff report
DATELINE: WILMINGTON, DEL.                                LENGTH: Short

BUCS STEAL A VICTORY ON ROAD

Ramon Espinosa helped set the table and Joe Ronca delivered as the Salem Buccaneers defeated the Wilmington Blue Rocks 4-2 on Friday night in Carolina League baseball.

Espinosa led off the ninth inning against Wilmington closer Jeff Smith with an infield single and stole second. After Ken Bonifay was hit by a pitch from Smith, Mike Brown flied to left.

Bucs center fielder John Farrell nearly became the hero, but his drive sailed over the left-field wall just foul. Farrell then struck out swinging, but Espinosa and Bonifay pulled off a double-steal, giving Espinosa three thefts for the evening.

Ronca, Salem's designated hitter then lined a single to right off Smith.

Marc Pisciotta nailed down the victory and his third save with a perfect ninth inning.

Brown had given the Bucs (16-20) a 2-1 lead with his 18th home run, a leadoff blast, in the seventh.

Jason Christiansen picked up the victory despite giving up the tying run on Andy Stewart's two-out single in the eighth. \

see microfilm for box score

by CNB