BY DAVID SHAW
FOR THE SALISBURY POST

Saturday night at Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium they combined some clutch hitting with more of their signature, Grade A pitching to sweep a doubleheader from visiting Asheville.

“You’re not going to hit home runs to win the ballgame every night,” manager Greg Legg said after Piedmont earned 5-1 and 6-1 SAL victories over the Southern Division leader. “Our power numbers are there, but you can’t rely on that. A lot of times you’ve got to win with pitching, defense and timely hitting.”

The Weevils used that three-pack to improve to 22-13 in the second half and 68-37 overall. In the opener, lefthander Frank Brooks (10-5) became’s the team’s second 10-game winner — and the league’s sixth — with a commanding performance. The Brooklyn native allowed only two hits and four baserunners in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out eight, yielded no earned runs and left with a three-run lead.

“Brooks pitched exceptionally well, especially the first time through their lineup,” said Legg. “He dominated. He probably could have stayed in there but I needed to get my relievers some work and I liked the match-ups we had coming up.”

Piedmont grabbed a 1-0 lead against Asheville starter Tom Stepka in the last of the first. Jay Sitzman, mired in a mid-summer slump (.176 in his previous 10 games), drilled a leadoff double off the centerfield wall and scored on a wild pitch.

In the second catcher Jeremy Deitrick, subbing for injured all-star Russ Jacobson, slammed a two-run homer over the left-field wall. It was 4-0 by the time Ambiorex Reyes doubled and scored on Sitzman’s second triple of the game.

“Usually, if Sitzman gets going, we make something happen,” said Piedmont batting coach Jerry Martin. “Everybody has down time once in a while. It’s good to see him coming around again.”

Game 2 featured a rocky start by Weevils’ righthander Brad Pautz, who needed 25 pitches to escape the top of the first inning unharmed. In the second Asheville scored an unearned run when Justin Lincoln reached on an error, Sam Smith lined a double over left-fielder Aaron Merhoff’s head and Eric McQueen lofted a sacrifice fly.

“That was actually pretty good damage control,” said Legg. “They had runners at second and third with none out and only scored once.”

It provided a needed boost for Piedmont, which collected five consecutive hits and scored four third-inning runs against losing pitcher Scott Dohmann. Key hits were Julio Collazo’s flare single to right and back-to-back two-run doubles by teammates Buzz Hannahan and Jorge Padilla.

Piedmont received outstanding relief work from Elio Serrano (2-2), Chris Keelin and Franklin Perez to secure the win. And double plays in the fifth and seventh innings defused Asheville rallies.

“Every win is important,” said Legg, whose team had lost three of its past four games entering play. “If you lose three or four in a row, you sort of lose your confidence. But this was a good night to turn things back around.”

NOTES: Asheville (23-13, 57-48 overall) has lost five of its last six games. ... Sitzman went 3-for-4 in the opener and now has 94 hits this season. Only teammates Marlon Byrd (125), Nate Espy (113) and Padilla (109) have more. ... Piedmont has swept two doubleheaders this season — both against Asheville — and split four others. ... Jacobson, out with a broken jaw, will spend at least 10 more days on the disabled list. Catcher Kevin Sullivan was promoted from Batavia to fill his spot on the roster. ... Weevils trainer Paul Gabrielson is spending the weekend with the Phillies in Philadelphia.