Kinston drops Myrtle Beach

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on August 10, 2004 1:55 PM

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MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- Scoring early with the Carolina League leader in wins on the mound turned out to be a deadly combination for the Kinston Indians on Monday night as they defeated Myrtle Beach, 3-1.

The first-half, Southern Division champions of the Carolina League started the scoring in the opening frame thanks to an RBI single from Pat Osborn. Pat Magness then singled in Osborn to make the score 2-0 in favor of the K-Tribe.

Kinston added another run in the second inning when Brad Snyder singled with two outs, scoring Dennis Malave, to up the Indians lead to 3-0. Kinston would not score another run for the rest of the game, but they wouldn't need to as Myrtle Beach could only manufacture one run.

Myrtle Beach scored its lone run in the third when Wes Timmons laced a double, scoring Gregor Blanco from third. Blanco reached with a single, stole second (21), and advanced to third on an throwing error charged to Kinston catcher Javier Herrera.

Myrtle Beach would scatter six hits and strand nine runners on the bases on the evening.

Kinston starter Brian Slocum (W, 13-5) picked up the win, adding to his league leading total. Slocum allowed just one run to come across on three Myrtle Beach hits in five solid innings on the hill.

Kinston's Juan Lara and Travis Foley combined to toss three innings of shutout relief, making way for closer Todd Pennington (S, 11). Pennington pitched a perfect 9th and fanned Blanco to earn the save and end the game.

Myrtle Beach starter Blaine Boyer (L, 7-9) gave up three runs on seven hits in the loss. Boyer allowed just one hit after the first two innings, where Kinston scored all of their runs. Relievers Paul Bush and Jacob Blakeney combined to pitch the final four innings, giving up just one hit over the final four frames.

The loss drops Myrtle Beach to 24-19 in the second half, three games behind Winston-Salem in the Southern Division of the Carolina League. Kinston improves to 25-17 in the second half and pulls to within 1.5 games of Winston-Salem with the victory.

Game two of the four game series between the Pelicans and K-Tribe is scheduled for a 7:05 start tonight.