Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 13, 1994 TAG: 9404130075
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Staff report
DATELINE: WILMINGTON, DEL. LENGTH: Medium
The Blue Rocks had a 2-0 lead and had held Salem to one hit.
How quickly things fell apart.
In the costly eighth inning, the Blue Rocks could do no right, giving up six hits and five Bucs runs and committing two errors.
The result was a 5-2 victory for Salem (3-2) in the opener of a three-game series at Wilmington's Daniel S. Frawley Stadium.
Daryl Ratliff had the big blow for the Bucs, a two-run single that gave Salem a 4-2 lead. Ratliff then circled the bases to score Salem's fifth run after a Wilmington throwing error on the same play.
"Those kinds of innings will happen," said Mike Jirschele, the Blue Rocks' manager. "You can't give a team like Salem a five-run inning and expect to win. Give them credit. We were up 2-0, and it looked like we were in total control. They got a couple of big hits and came out on top."
The comeback made a winner of Salem's John Ericks, who pitched 1 innings in relief of starter Sean Lawrence. Marc Pisciotta hurled a scoreless ninth, striking out one to earn his third save. Lawrence pitched 5 innings and gave up two runs on five hits with four strikeouts.
In the pivotal eighth, Salem's Jeff Conger led off with single. After Jay Cranford struck out, Reid Secrist and Marcus Hanel followed with singles to load the bases for Juan Segura, who slapped a two-run single to right. Segura has 10 RBI in five games to lead the Carolina League.
Hanel and Segura moved up to second and third on high throw to home plate by Blue Rocks' right fielder by Raul Gonzalez. Ratliff followed with a hard smash to losing pitcher Rodney Myers. The ball deflected off Myers' leg and caromed into short left-center, allowing two runs to score. Ratliff then circled the bases after Wilmington catcher Lance Jennings errantly threw into center field trying to nail Ratliff at second.
In the first five innings, thoughts of such a rally were few. Salem was being handcuffed by Blue Rocks starter Bart Evans and reliever Melvin Bunch. Evans, making his first start, retired the first 14 Bucs in order and gave up one hit in five innings.
But the Kansas City Royals, the Blue Rocks' parent team, had Evans on a 75-pitch limit, and he was removed after five innings.
Bunch then entered and threw two perfect innings of relief for Wilmington (2-2).
Keywords:
BASEBALL
by CNB