K-Tribe's magic number down to three

Published in Sports on June 8, 2006 2:01 PM

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WILMINGTON, Del. -- The K-Tribe's magic number to clinch a first half Southern Division title is now down three with 11 games to go as the Indians upended Wilmington 3-1 on Wednesday night.

Errors told the story in this one, as it was truly a game that Wilmington gave away. With the score tied at one in the sixth inning, Trevor Crowe mashed a one out triple to the right-field corner.

Brian Barton then hit an infield pop-up that second baseman Jeff Natale misplayed, allowing Crowe to score and give Kinston a 2-1 advantage.

Crowe scored on another error in the eighth inning when a double play ball was misplayed by the pitcher.

Crowe was 3-for-3 with three runs scored as he got the K-Tribe going in the first by walking, stealing a base, and then scoring on an RBI-double by Barton.

Chris "Doodle" Hicks (2-0), just 20 years old, picked up his second win of the season, pitching 32/3 innings of relief and giving up just two hits.

The K-Tribe's record is now 41-18, the second best record in all of minor league baseball.

The Indians return home to Grainger stadium today at 7 p.m. against Myrtle Beach. The game starts a seven-day, eight-game homestand for the K-Tribe.

Chuck Lofgren, another 20-year-old K-Tribe pitcher who is leading the minor leagues in wins with nine, will take the mound for Kinston.