Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, July 3, 1995 TAG: 9507040027
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: WILMINGTON, DEL. LENGTH: Medium
The Salem bullpen was rocked for four runs in the eighth inning as the Wilmington Blue Rocks rolled to a 7-3 victory Sunday afternoon in Carolina League baseball.
The Blue Rocks broke a 3-3 tie against Scott LaRock (4-2). Oscar Jimenez led off with an infield single to third base, and Luke Oglesby came on to run for Jimenez and took second on a wild pitch. Anthony Medrano's single to left field put Wilmington in front. Sergio Nunez scored on a sacrifice fly by Carlos Mendez to make it 5-3, and after Curt Conley relieved LaRock, Raul Gonzalez hit a two-run double to close the scoring.
Avalanche starter Matt Pool was in trouble early, giving up an RBI double to Mendez in the first inning to make it 1-0 after Medrano walked.
The Blue Rocks made it 2-0 in the second when Jimenez tripled and scored on a miscue by Salem catcher Mike Higgins. A pitch by Pool got away from Higgins and rolled to the screen. Jimenez held at third, but Higgins threw the ball to Pool covering the plate anyway and his toss got away for an error that allowed the runner to come home.
Salem cut its deficit to a run in the third. John Giudice singled to left, Nate Holdren singled to right and Giudice took third on a passed ball. Giudice then scored on a wild pitch by Wilmington starter Ken Ray.
The Blue Rocks got that run back when Gonzalez pounded the first of his three doubles and scored on a single by Ramey Brooks.
The Avalanche tied the score in the fifth. Giudice and Holdren singled again and Higgins walked. Chris Sexton's double-play grounder scored Giudice, and Vincente Garcia singled to drive in Holdren.
Toby Smith (4-7) picked up the victory in relief for the Blue Rocks.
The teams complete their three-game series at 7:05 p.m. today when Salem sends Mike Saipe (3-5) to the mound against Wilmington's Glendon Rusch (7-5), whose 1.88 ERA ranks third in the league.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
by CNB