K-Tribe falters in 10th inning

Published in Sports on July 11, 2005 1:46 PM

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KINSTON -- Winston-Salem scored six runs in the top of the 10th inning and went on to defeat Kinston 8-3 at historic Grainger Stadium on Sunday evening.

The win moved Winston-Salem to 9-7 in the second half in Single A Carolina League play and 48-38 overall, while Kinston slipped to 6-7 and 47-40.

The Warthogs trail Southern Division leader Salem by one-half game. Kinston, which begins a series on Wednesday at Salem, is four games out of first place.

Both teams wasted numerous scoring chances in the middle innings, but Kinston finally broke through in the bottom of the seventh after Winston-Salem starter Wes Whisler departed after six shutout innings.

Rojas tripled off Orionny Lopez with one out, and with the infield playing back Brandon Pinckney picked up an RBI groundout to get the K-Tribe on the board. That run proved big when the Indians rallied to tie the game in the ninth.

Micah Schilling led off with a single to right off closer Ehren Wasserman, and a sacrifice bunt by Rojas advanced Schilling to second. Pinckney flied out to center though, and with the Indians down to their final out Chris de la Cruz hit a routine grounder to Valido at short. Valido got nothing on his throw, however, and it short-hopped past first baseman Travis Hinton as Schilling raced home to score the improbable tying run.

Things fell apart for Kinston in extra innings.

Matt Davis opened the Warthog 10th by walking Noah Hall, and Micah Schnurstein, after failing to put down a sacrifice bunt, put Winston-Salem ahead for good with a two-run homer to left-center to make it 4-2.

Tom Collaro followed with a solo bomb to make it 5-2. A fielding error by Pinckney added another run, and Valido capped the inning by slamming another two-run homer to make it 8-2.

Brian Barton picked up an RBI double in the bottom of the 10th to account for the final margin.

Wasserman (4-2) blew the save but got the win, allowing an unearned run in 11/3 innings. Davis (3-5) gave up six runs (three earned) in 21/3 innings for Kinston. Caleb Brock finished 3-5 to lead the offense, while Schilling and Rojas both had two hits.

The teams played their series finale this morning. Adam Miller (1-0, 0.00 ERA) started for Kinston while the Warthogs threw left-hander Ryan Rodriguez (8-4, 4.83).

The league has an off day Tuesday.