Warthogs cruise past K-Tribe

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on September 3, 2004 2:01 PM

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WINSTON SALEM -- The Winston-Salem Warthogs beat Kinston 12-2 Thursday at Ernie Shore Field.

With the win, the Indians and Warthogs are once again tied for first place in the Southern Division. Warthogs' starter Sean Tracey earned his ninth win. Tracey gave up only one run on one hit in six innings. Tracey has yielded only four earned runs in his last 51 2/3 innings. Kinston starter, Brian Slocum, dropped his record to 15-6. Slocum gave up seven earned runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings.

The Warthogs took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Andy Gonzalez was hit by a pitch and scored on an RBI single by Casey Rogowski. Rogowski scored on an RBI single by Ryan Sweeney. Winston-Salem increased its lead to 4-0 after a Sweeney solo home run, his sixth, and RBI single by Gonzalez in the fourth. Kinston scored its first run on a solo home run by Jonathan van Every, his 21st, in the fifth.

Winston-Salem went up 8-1 with four runs in the fifth. The innings, the Warthogs went nine hitters to the plate and got a two-run double by Brian Becker and a two-run home run from Darren Blakely, his league leading 24th. The Warthogs capped their scoring off with four more runs in the bottom of the sixth. Josh Fields had an RBI double, while Brian Becker hit a three-run home run, his 21st. Kinston scored its final run in the ninth on an RBI single by Pat Osborn.

Winston-Salem had 15 hits on the night. Josh Fields and Ryan Sweeney each had three hits. Brian Becker, Darren Blakely, and Casey Rogowski each two hits, while Becker finished with a season high five RBIs. The different Indians had one hit a piece.

Winston-Salem and Kinston wrap up their four game series Friday night at 7pm. LHP Paulino Reynoso (3-2, 3.97) will pitch for the Warthogs. LHP Rafael Perez will make his Kinston debut.