Salvevold sets record, team misses as Hawks split twinbill

The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks had two milestones within reach Thursday afternoon at Newman Outdoor Field.

They were 1-1.

Greg Salvevold moved into first place on the RedHawks' career wins list, earning the victory in F-M's

11-4 triumph in Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Sioux City Explorers.

Sioux City rebounded for a 4-1 victory in Game 2, spoiling the RedHawks' bid to tie a league record for wins in a half.

Both games were seven innings.

F-M ended the first half with a

32-13 record, rolling to the first-half title in the Western Division.

The RedHawks and Winnipeg hold the record, each posting a 33-10 mark in the second half of the 1998 season.

"You've got to be happy with that," RedHawks pitching coach Jeff Bittiger said of the team's first half. "It would be very tough to duplicate. We'd like to try to win 60 games."

Salvevold pitched five innings and allowed six hits and four runs, three earned, to capture his 45th win with the RedHawks.

Salvevold moved one victory ahead of former RedHawk Justin Fletschock, who retired after last season.

Salvevold and Fletschock, two local products, were roommates for three years when both were on the team.

"That makes it fun and more special being we've been friends all these years," Salvevold said. "We're kind of looked at as being the same type of pitcher. We're not overpowering. We're good at spotting our pitches and getting a lot of ground balls."

Salvevold improved to 5-2 this season with a 4.67 ERA.

However, RedHawks manager Doug Simunic and Bittiger would like to see more from Salvevold, who has pitched with the RedHawks since 1997.

"I congratulate him on winning No. 45," Bittiger said. "But we're not sure why he hasn't been able to show the arm strength we want at this point."

Simunic had similar thoughts.

"I'm not seeing consistency out of him right now," Simunic said. "We need consistency out of him. I know he's trying hard, but it's not there."

The RedHawks exploded for eight runs in the fifth inning of Game 1 to erase a 4-0 Sioux City lead and take control. Jon Weber sparked the rally with a three-run pinch-hit home run, his first action of the four-game series. Eddie Gerald and Ruben Salazar also hit three-run home runs in Game 1.

Weber sat out the first two games against the Explorers with a minor knee injury. He was the designated hitter in the second game.

"I though I'd be out a little longer, but I'm back in the saddle and ready to rock-n-roll," Weber said of his health.

In Game 2, Sioux City starter Chris Swiatkiewicz (6-4) quieted the RedHawks, scattering six hits over seven innings to earn the complete-game victory.

"I'm proud of what my team did in the first half," Simunic said. "The intensity was there every night. We did a pretty good job with it. We deserve what we got."

NOTES: RedHawks first baseman Toby Rumfield extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a single in the sixth inning in Game 2 of the doubleheader. ... F-M starts the second half of the season today at Kansas City against the T-Bones. "I look at it as we're 32-13 and building on that," Simunic said. ... RedHawks left-hander Mike Peschel (2-0, 4.75 ERA) is scheduled to start for the RedHawks today against Kansas City. F-M left-hander Jodie Kennedy (6-2, 3.00 ERA) is slated to take the hill Saturday.

Readers can reach Forum reporter Eric Peterson at (701) 241-5513