Salem ends Giants' rally for 8-7 win By Capi Lynn The Statesman Journal Ken Luckham showed Monday that he can adjust to whatever pitching role the Salem Dodgers put him in. Luckham, U Orioles who recently maintain lead was pulled out Page 4D of the starting rotation, threw three key innings of relief t to lift the Dodgers to an 8-7 victory against the Everett Giants. "It's different," Luckham said of the relief role. "I just enjoy throwing. Wherever they put me, I'm going to try to do my best." The right-hander relieved starter Robin Nina in the sixth inning with the bases loaded and no outs after the Giants had tied it 6-6. Luckham (4-7) retired the first two hitters he faced on called strikes and the third hitter on a line drive to squelch Everett's rally. "I was pretty calm when I went in," Luckham said. "I didn't think bases loaded, but I told myself to think strikeout. The first one was the big one." Manager Tom Beyers said Luckham's work in the sixth inning was the turning point. "When you look back at that when it happened you don't know, but it turned into a key point in the game," Beyers said. "It was a make or break situation. If they get a key hit they get pumped up." Pitching coach Burt Hooton said: "Ken was a whole lot more aggressive on the mound than he has been, for the most part, all season. And that showed us that he is a much better pitcher.' After Luckham held the Giants in the top of the inning, the Dodgers (31-26) picked up a run in the bottom of the sixth. Rafael Rijo led off with a line single to left. He stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a passed ball. Rijo, who is 5 for 7 since driving in the winning run against Bellingham two nights ago, also figured in the Dodgers' final run in the seventh inning that made it 8-6. With two outs and runners at first and third, he singled home Eric Boddie, who had walked. Rijo said: "I've been working on the little things that I wasn't before, and I'm starting to hit better. In extended spring I hit .340, but when I came here I had problems adjusting to the league."
