Kinston loses in 13

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on August 11, 2005 2:06 PM

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MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- Steve Pyzik drove in a run in the 13th inning as the Myrtle Beach Pelicans got past the Kinston Indians on Wednesday night, 6-5.

Kinston staked claim to an early 2-0 after scoring a run in each of the first two innings. Trailing by a pair of runs, the Pelicans fought their way back into the contest cut the Indians lead in half in the bottom of the third inning when Carl Loadenthal drilled an RBI double into left center.

Myrtle Beach evened the score at two in the bottom of the sixth inning with one swing of the bat. All-Star catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia belted a screaming liner over the right field wall, his 16th home run of the season, to tie up the affair.

Kinston regained the lead in the top of the seventh inning when Mike Butia delivered an RBI single, putting the Tribe back on top, 3-2.

An inning later, the Indians added another run when Mike Conroy doubled in a run. The run scoring two-bagger from Conroy jumped the Kinston lead to 4-2.

With Kinston back on top the Pelicans refused to go away and proceeded to make things really interesting in the bottom of the eighth. After back-to-back walks issued to Michael Rozema and Saltalamacchia, Esquivel smacked a line drive through the right side of the infield, scoring Rozema from second, to pull the Pelicans to within a run, 4-3. His 74th RBI of the season for Esquivel broke Marcus Giles' single season RBI record of 73, which was set in 1999, the Pelicans' inaugural season.

Later in the inning Saltalamacchia would come across the plate with the tying run on a wild pitch, tying the score at 4-4.

The two rivals battled into extra innings, where in the top of the 10th inning Pelicans skipper Randy Ingle was ejected.

Ingle came out of the Pelicans dug out to argue a play at second base in which it appeared Kinston's Stephen Head was tossed out in an attempt to stretch a base hit into a double. After a couple of minutes of arguing Ingle was ejected, and as he left the field took second base with him to the Pelicans clubhouse.

Once second base was replaced play resumed and the Indians struck first in the extra innings. In the top of the 12th, Kinston used an RBI single up the middle from Brandon Pinckney to go back on top, 5-4.

Just when it looked like the game would come to a close, the Pelicans once again came from behind and tied up the game. In the bottom of the 12th newcomer, Van Pope delivered a clutch, one-out, RBI double down the left field line, bringing in another newcomer, Brandon Jones, who reached with a walk. Pope's first RBI as a Pelican tied the game at 5-5 and forced even more extra frames.

An inning later, the Pelicans finally put an end to the game. Thomas drew a lead-off walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Loadenthal. With Thomas at second, Pyzik, who entered the game in the 10th as a defensive replacement for Saltalamacchia, roped a liner into left, scoring Thomas from second with the winning run. The Birds celebrated the 6-5 victory and took game three of the series in stunning fashion.

The Pelicans and K-Tribe will play again today at 7:02 p.m. in the series finale of the four-game series.

Courtesy of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans

International League

Norfolk 5, Charlotte 1

NORFOLK, Va. -- Brian Daubach tripled and Mike DiFelice homered in a five-run sixth inning as Norfolk beat Charlotte 5-1 in International League play Wednesday.

Angel Pagan walked to begin the inning and advanced to second on a botched throw that allowed Wil Cordero to get to first. Victor Diaz walked, loading the bases for Daubach's three-run triple. DiFelice then sent his 13th homer of the year over the left field fence.

The Knights had picked up a run in the fifth when Ross Gload doubled and came home off a single by Greg Norton.

Eric Junge (10-5) pitched six strong innings, striking out six, walking two and giving up four hits and the Knights' only run. Heath Bell struck out five and gave up two hits in three innings for his fifth save.

Arnie Munoz (7-11) was charged with four runs and an unearned run in the loss.