K-Tribe thumps Keys, 11-1

Published in Sports on August 25, 2005 1:57 PM

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KINSTON -- A night after Frederick manager Bien Figueroa did his talking in the newspaper, the Kinston Indians did their talking on the field.

Figueroa, who after Tuesday night's game said, "I know they (Kinston) don't have a good bullpen -- it's probably one of the worst in the league," watched his bullpen work the final 71/3 innings as a very motivated Indians ball club dismantled Frederick 11-1 before 660 fans at historic Grainger Stadium on Wednesday night. The quote found its way to the bulletin board in the home clubhouse as Kinston moved to 28-31 in the second half and 69-60 overall. The Keys fell to 33-23 and 68-58.

It didn't take long for Kinston to chase Frederick starter Adam Loewen, and the former first-round pick certainly didn't help his cause by walking four of the first eight hitters he faced as Kinston batted around in the bottom of the first. Argenis Reyes walked to start the inning, and Mike Conroy got the Indians on the board immediately by crushing a two-run homer off the video board in right-center to give Kinston a 2-0 lead.

Kevin Kouzmanoff then drew another walk, and eventually made his way to third as Kinston loaded the bases with two outs. David Wallace then drew Loewen's fourth walk of the inning to force in Kouzmanoff and make it 3-0.

After the Keys got a solo home run from Bryan Bass in the top of the second, the Indians took all the drama out of the game with four runs in the bottom of the second. Conroy was hit by a pitch with one out, and back-to-back hits by Kouzmanoff and Stephen Head made it a 4-1 game.

Brian Barton's fielder's choice brought in another run, and Ryan Goleski then delivered a back-breaking bloop double that fell just in front of centerfielder Nolan Reimold as Head scored from third and Barton raced in all the way from first.

Armed with a 7-1 lead at that point, Indians starter Nick Pesco (10-10) just pounded the strike zone and let the defense work behind him, clicking off 10 straight outs at one point.

Head led the offense by going 3-for-5 with three RBI and Goleski went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Conroy's home run was his eighth of the season and second in as many nights.