Kinston falls

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on July 21, 2005 2:02 PM

• Print
• Email

KINSTON -- James Johnson threw six great innings and the Kinston offense was limited to just one run for the second straight night as Frederick defeated the Indians 5-1 before 800 fans at historic Grainger Stadium on Wednesday night.

The Keys improved to 12-8 in the second half and 47-43 overall, while the Indians fell to 10-15 and 51-44.

Frederick capitalized on some early wildness by Kinston starter Sean Smith in the top of the first inning, getting Johnson all the support he would need with a pair of runs. Smith walked the first two batters of the game on a combined nine pitches, and Mario Delgado got Frederick on the board with an RBI single to left. The Keys added another run on Jeff Fiorentino's RBI fielder's choice to make it 2-0, and Bryan Bass supplied a solo home run in the second to make it 3-0.

Kinston responded in the bottom of the second when Mike Butia cranked a solo home run to right to make it 3-1, but that would prove to be the extent of the offense.

The Indians stranded a pair of runners in the third, and the Keys pulled further ahead on Fiorentino's solo home run in the sixth. The K-Tribe had one last good scoring opportunity in the bottom of the sixth, as Stephen Head led off with a single and Brian Barton was hit by a pitch for the team-leading ninth time this year to put men at first and second with no one out. Butia grounded into a 4-6-3 double play however, and Brandon Pinckney flied out to end the threat. Frederick added its final run on Brian Bock's RBI double in the ninth.

Johnson (9-4) moved into a three-way tie for the league lead in wins, allowing just a run on five hits in six innings. He walked two and struck out six.

Smith (3-5) did not pitch poorly but did allow four runs on three hits in six innings. He recorded three walks and three strikeouts. Dave Haehnel worked two perfect innings for his first save.

Six separate Indians had hits in the game and Butia's home run was his second of the year.

The finale of this four-game series is set for 7 p.m. Thursday. Adam Miller (1-1, 2.16 ERA) will start for Kinston against Frederick's Brian Finch (6-6, 3.58 ERA).