W-b Man Charged In Store Robbery 
Several Other Robberies With A Similar Pattern Are Still Under Investigation,
Police Say.

Andrew Fetsko

By VAN ROSE vrose@leader.net
 Wednesday, May 23, 2001 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1B 





MOOSIC - Apparently, the Red Barons can't stand prosperity. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 After putting together a three-game winning streak, they have dropped two
consecutive games to Toledo, scoring one run in each game. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The latest setback occurred Tuesday, when the Mud Hens posted a 2-1 victory
against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before a school kids special crowd of 9,027 at
Lackawanna County Stadium. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 It was a frustrating loss for the Red Barons. They managed only five hits,
and saw their best chance to tie the score evaporate when Gene Schall grounded
into a double play in the bottom of the sixth inning. At the time, they
trailed 2-1 and had runners on first and third bases. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``That was probably our best opportunity to turn things around,'' said
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre manager Don Long. ``Certainly, Schall is a guy you like
to see at the plate in that kind of situation. Unfortunately, today things
didn't work out.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Long, who also serves as the Phillies' minor league hitting instructor,
said the Red Barons' offense sputtered Tuesday, partly because it didn't show
enough patience. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``We didn't really swing the bats well,'' he said. ``We didn't have a solid
approach. Some of our batters were putting too much weight on their back foot,
which caused us to hit too many fly balls.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Toledo got a sharp performance from starter Mark Johnson, who gave up one
run and four hits in five innings of work. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``Johnson was effective,'' Long said. ``We could have made him look bad,
but didn't. He threw some fastballs and sliders that were up in the zone. The
location of those pitches lent themselves to a little more production from us,
but we didn't take advantage of it.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Red Barons scored their lone run in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Kevin Orie led off with a single, and went to third on a double by Gene
Schall. Orie scored on a sacrifice fly by Turner Ward. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre was led by right-fielder Eric Valent, who continued
his hitting tear. Valent was 3-for-4, including his 15th double of the season.
Valent, who is the International League's RBI leader with 38, has hit safely
in 12 of 13 games. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Vincente Padilla, who is on rehab assignment from the Phillies, started and
pitched one inning of no hit ball. The Red Barons got a superb effort from
reliever Blas Cedeno, who worked three innings without surrendering a hit. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``He picked us up in our last game at Indianapolis, and he continued to
excel today,'' Long said. ``He mixed his pitches well; it was another solid
outing.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Mud Hens took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Tom Evans hit a
leadoff double and scored on a single by Brian Rios. Toledo extended the
margin to 2-0 in the fourth inning. Chris Wakeland led off with a double and
later scored on Dave Lindstrom's sacrifice fly. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 HOW THEY SCORED &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 MUD HENS SECOND: Tom Evans doubled and advanced on a fly out by Kurt
Airosa. Chris Wakeland walked. Brian Rios singled in Evans, moving Wakeland to
second. Wakeland was thrown out trying to steal third, and Rios took second.
Dave Lindstrom grounded out. Mud Hens 1, Red Barons 0. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 MUD HENS FOURTH: Wakeland doubled. Rios grounded out, moving Wakeland to
third. Lindstrom hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Wakeland. Giomar Guevara
singled. Pedro Santana grounded out. Mud Hens 2, Red Barons 0. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 RED BARONS FOURTH: Kevin Orie singled. Eric Valent flied out. Gene Schall
doubled, advancing Orie to third. Turner Ward hit a sacrifice fly, scoring
Orie and moving Schall to third. Jason Knupfer grounded out. Mud Hens 2, Red
Barons 1. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 LOOK AHEAD &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 NEXT GAME: Tomorrow at 7 p.m. vs. Richmond &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 STARTING PITCHERS: The Red Barons' Paul Byrd (RHP, 1-3, 3.65 ERA) vs.
Richmond's Ismael Villegas (RHP, 1-0, 1.77 ERA). &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 RADIO: WICK-AM (1400), WYCK-FM (1340), WYTK-AM (1550), WEMR-FM (107.7). &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 BETWEEN THE LINES: Scranton/Wilkes-Barre outfielder Eric Valent is one of
the hottest hitters in the International League. Valent, who doubled in
Tuesday's game against Toledo, has hit safely in 12 of the last 13 games.
Valent leads the league in RBI with 38. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ON DECK: The Red Barons return to action tomorrow, when they open a
four-game home series against Richmond. On Monday, they begin a four-game road
set against Columbus. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Listless Barons Shackled By Mud Hens' Pitcher 
Outfielder Eric Valent Was The Only Red Baron To Swing The Bat Well Tuesday,
Garnering Three Of The Team's Five Hits.

Listless Barons Shackled By Mud Hens' Pitcher Outfielder Eric Valent Was The Only Red Baron To Swing The Bat Well Tuesday, Garnering Three Of The Team's Five Hits.