K-Tribe bomb Myrtle Beach with hits

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on August 5, 2004 1:55 PM

• Print
• Email

KINSTON -- They say in the playoffs that good pitching beats good hitting.

But with the Carolina League post-season still six weeks away, the Kinston Indians mauled Myrtle Beach 10-1 Wednesday night at historic Grainger Stadium to prove that at least in August, the bats reign supreme.

Kinston improved to 22-16 in the second half and 67-40 overall, and moved within 2.5 games of Winston-Salem for first place in the South Division. Myrtle Beach lost for the ninth time in 12 games and is 21-18 and 61-46.

Many believed a South Division Championship Series between the Pelicans and Indians was inevitable, as the teams have the two best overall records in the league. But Myrtle Beach now sits four games behind Winston-Salem and could be on the outside looking in, since the Pelicans do not play the Warthogs again in the regular season.

With a crowd of 1,055 looking on the Indians broke through with four runs in the second inning and never looked back in knocking around the best pitching staff (statistically) in the Carolina League. Pat Magness and Javi Herrera led off with singles, and J.J. Sherrill put Kinston ahead 1-0 with a sacrifice fly. Dennis Malave made it 2-0 with a single to score Herrera, and a throwing error and a wild pitch plated two more runs for the Tribe. Myrtle Beach committed two errors and starter Anthony Lerew threw two wild pitches in the inning as all four runs were unearned.

Magness made it 5-0 in the third with a solo home run to left-center, and Kinston tacked on three more in the fourth on RBI singles from Herrera and Nathan Panther, coupled with Pat Osborn's sac fly. After the Pelicans scored their run in the sixth, the Indians added an RBI groundout from Osborn and a run-scoring single from Jonathan van Every in the bottom of the eighth to account for the final margin.

Starter J.D. Martin was the main beneficiary of all the run support, and carried a no-hitter into the fifth en route to evening his record at 9-9. Martin went seven excellent innings and allowed just a run on three hits. He walked one and struck out three. Lerew (8-7) didn't make it out of the fourth, allowing eight runs (four earned) and 10 hits in 3.2 innings. He walked two and struck out three. Travis Foley worked two scoreless innings to finish the game for Kinston.

Offensively, Osborn picked up two RBI and reached base for the 21st straight game on a fielder's choice in the first. Magness went 3-5 with his fourth home run of the season and recorded his 19th RBI in his 18th game for Kinston. Herrera finished 4-5 with a run scored and an RBI, and van Every added a pair of singles and his team-leading 57th RBI.

The Indians remain home and open a three-game series with the Lynchburg Hillcats Thursday night at 7 p.m.

Osborn captures Carolina League honors

PHILADELPHIA -- The Sports Network has tabbed Kinston Indians infielder Pat Osborn the Carolina Offensive Player of the Week for the week ending Sunday, August 1.

The 23-year old Osborn is one of the hottest offensive players in the Carolina League. Last week, he batted .500 (14-for-28) with one home run and five RBI, finishing with a slugging percentage of .750 and an on-base-percentage of .533, scoring eight runs and recording a stolen base.