Kinston falls to Keys

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on July 28, 2005 2:01 PM

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FREDERICK, Md. -- Nate Spears singled to drive in Bryan Bass in the bottom of the 12th inning as the Frederick Keys avoided a sweep by defeating the visiting Kinston Indians, 3-2.

Pitching and defense was prevalent in the third game of a series where the previous two games saw 41 runs cross the plate. Keys starter Carlos Jan and Indians starter Scott Roehl kept the game scoreless through the first three innings.

Stephen Head singled with one out in the top of the fourth inning, before getting hit in the head with Carlos Jan's pick-off attempt. Chris De La Cruz came on to pinch run then scored on Brian Barton's single to left field giving Kinston a 1-0 lead.

The Keys (16-11) answered in the bottom of the fourth inning when Branden Florence homered to left center off Scott Roehl, his 12th of the season.

Kinston (14-18) would retake the lead in the top of the fifth inning when Mike Conroy tripled to right center and scored on Nathan Panther's ground out to Nate Spears, giving Kinston the 2-1 advantage.

Two critical fielding miscues in the bottom of the seventh by Kinston would help the Keys tie the score, as Josh McCurdy reached base and moved to second base on the fielding error by Argenis Reyes. McCurdy moved to third when Gera Alvarez's bunt attempt was dropped by Jim Ed Warden. McCurdy would come around to score the tying run when Brian Bock grounded out to Brandon Pinckney.

David Haehnel, Chris Britton and Marino Salas then held the Indians scoreless over the next six innings, giving Spears the chance to drive the Kyle Collins offering to right center field, scoring Bass in the bottom of the 12th inning to give the Keys a 3-2 victory.

Salas (1-2) earned his first victory of the season tossing a perfect 12th inning, striking out all three batters he faced.

Collins (1-1) took the loss allowing a run on three hits in 11/3 innings.

-- Information courtesy of the Frederick Keys.