Pelicans rally past K-Tribe

Published in Sports on August 3, 2005 2:02 PM

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KINSTON -- Myrtle Beach struck for four runs in the top of the eighth and Kinston lost for the first time all year when leading after seven innings as the Pelicans scored a 6-4 win before 845 fans at historic Grainger Stadium Tuesday night.

The victory moved Myrtle Beach to 17-19 in the second half and 50-55 overall, while the Indians are 15-23 and 56-52. Kinston is now 48-1 when leading after seven innings.

The Pelicans opened the scoring with back-to-back doubles from Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Matt Esquivel with two out in the top of the first, but Kinston responded immediately in the bottom of the inning.

Nathan Panther and Rodney Choy Foo both singled with one away, and a two-out walk to Brian Barton loaded the bases for Ryan Goleski. Mired in a 2-39 slump, Goleski jumped on the first pitch he got from Myrtle Beach starter Brady Endl and lined a frozen rope to the wall in right-center for a bases-clearing double and a 3-1 Kinston advantage. Indians starter Tom Mastny worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the third but the Pelicans later cut the lead in half with a run in the top of the fifth. Kinston answered by manufacturing a run in the seventh, as Brandon Pinckney walked with one out, stole second, went to third on a two-out error and scored on a passed ball to give the K-Tribe a 4-2 lead going into the eighth.

Jim Ed Warden came out of the bullpen to start the eighth for Kinston, but the trouble started when Diory Hernandez reached on an infield single with one out. Warden then hit Steve Pyzik on the next pitch and then threw a slider all the way to the backstop on the following pitch as the runners moved to second and third. Carl Loadenthal then drilled Warden's next offering off the wall in dead center field for a two-run double that tied the game at 4-4. Mike Rozema walked and Saltalamacchia singled to load the bases, but Warden got a big second out when he struck out Matt Esquivel. Jaime Trejo spoiled Warden's chance to escape with a tie however, dumping his first pitch into short left field as Loadenthal and Rozema came around to score. The Indians did have a great chance to tie it in the bottom of the ninth as Michael Butia led off with a single and David Wallace pounded a double to right-center, but Pelicans closer Manny Acosta retired the next three men in order as the tying runs were stranded in scoring position.

Seth Bobbitt (2-0) allowed an unearned run and no hits in two innings for the win, while Warden (3-4) was charged with four runs in two innings. Acosta's save was his fifth. Goleski led the offense with his three RBI, and Choy Foo enjoyed a 2-4 night.

The rubber match of this three-game series is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday. Kinston will send All-Star Nick Pesco (6-9, 3.83 ERA) to the hill against Ricardo Rodriguez (3-5, 4.15 ERA).