K-Tribe rallies past Winston-Salem

By Steve Roush
Published in Sports on July 9, 2006 2:01 AM

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KINSTON -- Matt Whitney ended a 0-for-44 slump with a two-run, bases-loaded single in the bottom of the eighth inning that sent Kinston to a come-from-behind win over Winston-Salem. The K-Tribe's 5-3 victory was their third in a row, thanks to the first hit by Whitney since June 14.

With Kinston down 3-2 in the eighth, Whitney's single scored Jordan Brown and Rodney Choy Foo, after an intentional walk to Javi Herrera loaded the bases with one out. Herrera would later score on an RBI ground out by Micah Schilling.

Kinston took an early 1-0 lead with an RBI single by Herrera in the second inning scoring Choy Foo. Winston Salem came roaring back in the top of the sixth, taking a 3-1 lead on a two RBI single by Daron Roberts. Herrera added another RBI single in the sixth inning, scoring Brown and bringing the K-Tribe to within one.

Ryan Knippschild (4-3) picked up the win for Kinston, throwing two hitless innings of relief. T.J. Burton picked up his second save in two nights, bringing his total to 14 for the year. Joe Ness started for the Indians, going six innings, giving up three hits and just one earned run. Matt Zaleski (0-4) took the loss for Winston-Salem.

Kinston continues the series today at 2 p.m. at Grainger Stadium with Scott Lewis taking the hill for the Indians.

FRIDAY'S GAME

KINSTON 2-3, WILMINGTON 0-0

KINSTON -- The K-Tribe pitching staff showed their stuff on Friday night, pitching 14 innings of shutout baseball en route to a doubleheader sweep of Wilmington. Kinston won game one 2-0 and followed it up with a 3-0 win in game two.

It was the K-Tribe pitching staff's sixth and seventh shutouts of the season, the most of any team in the Carolina League this year.

In game one, Chuck Lofgren (11-4) picked up his league-leading 11th win of the season, going 52/3 innings, giving up just one hit and striking out four. Reliever Michael Finnocchi picked up his first save of the season to complete the seven inning shut out.

A two-run single by Brandon Pinckney in the fourth inning scored Brian Barton and Rodney Choy Foo and gave Kinston the only runs they would need.

In game two, the K-Tribe bullpen took over with Reid Santos, Wyatt Allen and T.J. Burton combining for the shutout. The trio gave up just three hits in seven innings.

Santos (2-0) pitched four innings of shutout ball for his second win of the season and T.J. Burton notched the save.

The first run of the game came thanks to an RBI double by Choy Foo, scoring Brian Barton in the bottom of the third. Barton kept it going in the fifth inning with a two-run homer to right field, his team leading 11th dinger of the season. Barton was a combined 4-for-5 in the doubleheader with three runs scored and two RBIs.