Grand slam propels K-Tribe

Published in Sports on April 25, 2006 2:07 PM

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KINSTON -- Wyatt Toregas hit a grand slam with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning to send Kinston to the clubhouse with a 5-1 victory over the Lynchburg Hillcats on Monday night at Grainger Stadium.

The dramatic hit was Toregas's first home run of the year, off the first pitch he saw from Lynchburg reliever Ramon Linares (2-1).

Brian Barton started the ninth inning after reaching base when a called third strike got away from catcher John Suomi. After a sacrifice bunt and two straight walks, Toregas ended it with the big hit, the first grand slam hit by an Indians player this year.

Kyle Collins (2-0) picked up the win with a scoreless inning of relief.

The K-Tribe picked up their first run of the game on a Micah Schilling triple, scoring Barton back in the second. Lynchburg tied the game in the top of the eight inning, when Antonio Sucre scored on Argenis Reyes throwing error with two outs.

Kinston got another great starting pitching performance from Scott Lewis, pitching five innings, giving up just three hits and striking out six. Lewis has not giving up an earned run in 172/3 innings of work this season.

Aaron Laffey came in for a solid 22/3 innings of relief work, giving up two hits and no earned runs. It was the second game this year that the K-Tribe has won in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Lynchburg and Kinston will meet for game two of the four game series today at 7 p.m.