June 27, 1993|By Kent Baker Red Wings: Bats are big
Silver Stadium, opened in 1929 and renovated in 1986, was deemed deficient in several areas by Major League Baseball. Since a new stadium won't be ready by 1994, when new requirements for minor-league parks go into effect, the Red Wings still may need to make costly repairs to Silver.
* Paul Carey reclaimed his first-base job when he returned to the Red Wings on Friday night. The swap of Carey for Jeffrey Hammonds gives the Red Wings power, but takes away speed. It also takes away a natural leadoff batter. Bruce Dostal is expected to lead off against right-handers, and Manny Alexander could lead off against lefties.
Carey's arrival bumps Mel Wearing back to designated hitter, but not even that's guaranteed. The Red Wings have four DTC outfielders, and one is expected to rotate with Wearing as DH. But Wearing will be tough to get out of the lineup now that he's hitting again. After going 5-for-70, the right-handed hitter was 9-for-27 in his past eight games.
NOTES: C Mark Parent, who was 3-for-38 over 12 games, has since hit in nine of 11 (14-for-39) with four doubles, a homer and seven RBI through Thursday . . . Kevin McGehee leads the league with a 1.80 ERA. The right-hander took over the lead with seven shutout innings in a 9-1 victory over Charlotte on Tuesday . . . Mike Oquist recorded his first victory since May 2, a span of eight starts, with a rain-shortened 4-0 victory over Columbus. The right-hander had given up three hits in 5 1/3 innings . . . Tommy Hinzo hasn't stolen a base since May 29. He is third in the league with 16.
Patti Singer
Keys: Offense is off
FREDRICK
FREDERICK -- The Single-A Frederick Keys have been receiving decent pitching, but their lack of offense has cost them.
In an attempt to shore up the attack, infielder-outfielder Jose Millares returned to Frederick last week from the Double-A Baysox.
Millares hit .292 in 29 games with Bowie.
During his first stay with Frederick, Millares had four homers and 12 RBI in 20 games.
To illustrate the Keys' offensive troubles, they are last in the Carolina League in runs scored, an average of about 1 1/2 behind the leader, the Durham Bulls.
NOTES: Brian DuBois and Dave Paveloff, former Keys pitchers now with the Baysox, still rank among the league's pitching leaders. DuBois is first in ERA (1.55) and Paveloff is tied for second in saves (15). . . . Curtis Goodwin stole nine bases in a span of eight games and extended his league lead to 12 with a total of 38. . . . Attendance has been holding firm, but a series of major promotions, including laser shows, fireworks and a Hawaiian luau, are expected to enable the Keys to seriously challenge leaders Wilmington and Durham.
Kent Baker
Suns: Thwarting thefts
HAGERSTOWN
HAGERSTOWN -- Catcher Angel Martinez missed 37 games with a broken right hand, but he is quickly making up for lost time.
Since returning to the Single-A Hagerstown Suns' lineup June 8, he has made a habit of throwing out would-be base stealers for the Toronto Blue Jays affiliate, nabbing five in a row, 12 of the past 17.
Martinez also scored the winning run in the South Atlantic League All-Star Game last week at Golden Park in Columbus, Ga., after leading off the 10th inning with a double. The American League team won, 3-2.
The three Hagerstown representatives went 3-for-8 in the All-Star game.
But the Suns went into the weekend still missing their biggest offensive force, outfielder Jose Herrera (broken thumb), the league's leading hitter.
NOTES: Pitcher Steve Renko, son and namesake of the former major leaguer, has been promoted to Double-A Knoxville. He was 4-2 with a 3.40 ERA and a team-leading five saves at Hagerstown. . . . To replace Renko, the Suns received right-hander Tim Lindsay, who was 1-1 at Single-A Dunedin. . . . The injury-riddled Suns finished the first half with a 34-36 record, 11 games behind champion Greensboro in the Northern Division. They lost the first two games of the second half at home. . . . Hagerstown ranks 13th in the 14-team league with an average attendance of 1,255.
Kent Baker
