Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 30, 1995 TAG: 9506300093
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
And you think you've done a ton of strong yard work lately.
Well, what about Brent Crowther's manicure job Thursday night at Salem Municipal Field?
In a sparkling Class A Carolina League debut, the big right-hander mowed down Winston-Salem's bats in leading Salem to a 6-1 victory in the first game of a doubleheader.
The Warthogs gained a split in the nightcap, whipping the Avalanche 5-1 behind Curt Lyons' three-hitter.
While Salem (6-3) remained tied with Kinston (6-3) for the second-half lead in the Southern Division, the big news at the old ballyard on this night was Crowther. The strapping 6-foot-4, 230-pound, Vancouver, British Columbia native struck out 10, walked one - and that was intentional - while spacing six hits in a command performance.
Not too shabby for a guy just three days removed from the slower-paced South Atlantic League.
``My plan was to just go out and go after the hitters,'' Crowther said. ``I wasn't real nervous about [his first Carolina start].
``I just wanted to be aggressive out there, and for the most part, I think I was. I'm anxious to see what I can do up here. Who knows? Next year, it might be Class AA, and after you get there, you're almost at the big show ... and that's where everybody here wants to go.''
Billy Champion has already been there, done that. The Salem pitching coach loved what he saw of Crowther, who at 23, still is in only his second season of professional baseball.
``It was real refreshing to see a guy go out there and have the fun he had tonight,'' said Champion, when asked to assess Crowther's work.
``Other than in spring training this is the first time I had seen him pitch. He never backed off of anybody all night long. It was impressive, to say the least.''
The Avalanche knew it was getting a keeper when Crowther was summoned north to replace struggling Keith Barnes. The Colorado Rockies' 10th pick in last June's draft was 12-3 with a 2.28 ERA in 15 starts this season at Asheville.
``[Crowther] has a good splitter [split-finger pitch] and that makes the other pitches [curve and fastball] work,'' Champion said. ``I knew what to expect from his numbers [at Asheville]. He's going to help us.''
Steve Barnhardt and Forry Wells helped Crowther, ripping two- and three-run homers, respectively, to carry the offense.
Barnhardt's homer, his second in as many games, gave Salem a 2-0 lead. Wells' mammoth blast in the fifth, his team-high 11th, made it 5-1. After a short night's rest, the two teams will be back on the job early today to sew up the four-game series. First pitch for the final day game in Municipal's 63-year-old history is scheduled for 1 p.m.
EXTRA BASES: Right-hander Jamey Wright (9-4, 2.73 ERA) goes for Salem, in an attempt to tie Kinston's Bartolo Colon (10-3) for most wins among Carolina hurlers. Right-hander Jason Robbins (4-4, 3.51 ERA) toes the rubber for the Warthogs. ... The Avalanche picked up 23-year-old outfielder Pookie Jones from Asheville on Wednesday. Jones, a former University of Kentucky quarterback, hit .349 in 16 games with the Tourists. ... Crowther's 10 Ks marked a Salem season high. ... Grunewald went 0-for-3 in the opener, ending his hitting streak at nine games. ... Outfielder Brian Culp, whose 44 RBI leads the Avalanche, was in the lineup in the nightcap after missing three games due to a sore neck.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
Keywords:
BASEBALL
by CNB