K-Tribe suffers initial shutout, first home loss

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on April 26, 2004 1:55 PM

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KINSTON -- The Myrtle Beach Pelicans avoided a sweep in their three-game series with Kinston Sunday afternoon as the Indians were shut out for the first time this year in a 5-0 loss.

Myrtle Beach improved to 8-8, while the Indians dropped to 12-3 but kept their two-game lead in the South Division, thanks to Salem's loss.

The Pelicans took a 1-0 lead in the third when Tribe starter Fausto Carmona allowed back-to-back walks with two out in the inning and Jeff Francoeur delivered an RBI single.

It was still 1-0 in the fifth when trouble again hit Carmona with two away. Gregor Blanco hit an easy grounder to Indians second baseman Anthony Lunetta that should have ended the inning, but Lunetta's throw to first was high and pulled Michael Aubrey off the bag.

Onil Joseph followed with a run-scoring double to the gap in right-center, and two pitches later Francoeur socked a two-run homer to left off a shell-shocked Carmona.

Down 4-0, the Indians mounted a rally in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases with two away. But Dennis Malave grounded out to end the inning, and Kinston didn't get a runner past first the rest of the way.

Carmona (1-1) was hung with the loss, allowing five hits and four runs (only one of them earned) in six innings. He walked two and struck out four in his longest outing of the season. Myrtle Beach's Kyle Davies improved to 2-1 with six dominating innings, surrendering just two hits while striking out eight.

The Indians continue their homestand with the opener of a four-game series against the Lynchburg Hillcats Monday night at 7 p.m. The series continues Tuesday and Wednesday with special 11 a.m. start times for Lenoir County Education Days, and concludes Thursday at 7 p.m.

For more information, call the Indians office at (252) 527-9111.