Minor League roundup - K-Tribe blanks Cats

Published in Sports on August 13, 2006 2:13 AM

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The K-Tribe trio of Scott Lewis, Ryan Knippschild and Randy Newsom combined for a two-hit shutout -- leading Kinston to a 5-0 win over Lynchburg on Saturday night.

Lewis started the game, limiting Lynchburg to one hit in four innings while striking out three. Knippschild (6-3) got the win, pitching 3 2/3, giving up one hit while striking out five. Ryan Newsom pitched 1 2/3 holding Lynchburg hitless. It was Kinston's Carolina League-leading ninth shutout of the season.

The Indians broke a scoreless tie in the top of the sixth when back-to-back singles by Jose Constanza and Argenis Reyes were followed up by an RBI single from Jordan Brown. Rodney Choy Foo drove home run number two with a sacrifice fly a batter later. Kinston added insurance in the top of the ninth when Matt Whitney ripped a triple to the gap in center, scoring Stephen Head and John Drennen. One batter later, Jose Constanza ripped a triple of his own easily scoring Whitney.

Kinston is now 74-44 overall this season and 27-21 in the second half. Kinston finishes up the three- game series with Lynchburg tomorrow at 6:05 p.m.

Friday's game

Lynchburg 3, Kinston 2

Brandon Pinckney and Nathan Panther each hit solo home runs for the K-Tribe, but the Indians were unable to hold on late losing 3-2 to Lynchburg on Friday night. Lynchburg won the game on a bases loaded squeeze play in the bottom of the ninth inning. With Matt Meath pinch running at third, Lynchburg's Justin Harris laid down a perfect bunt down the first base line, scoring Meath and winning the game in walk off style. Lynchburg tied the game in the bottom of the eighth with a bases loaded RBI by Dan Schwartzbauer.

The Hillcat comeback ruins a great starting performance by the K-Tribes Joe Ness, who tied a season high by going six and two-thirds innings. Ness gave up four hits and one earned run while striking out four. Cody Bunkelman (2-1), took the loss for Kinston giving up four hits and an earned run in one and one-third innings of relief. Steven Duguay (7-1), picked up the win for Lynchburg.

The K-Tribe's Stephen Head went one for four tonight, making his consecutive on base streak now at 30 games. The streak is the third longest in the Carolina League this year. Kinston takes on the Hillcats tomorrow in game two of this three game series at 7:05 PM, Scott Lewis will take the mound for the K-Tribe.

Friday's game

Birmingham 7, Carolina 3

ZEBULON -- Cory Aldridge hit a pinch two-run double to key a five-run eighth inning as Birmingham defeated Carolina 7-3 at Five County Stadium on Friday night before 4,893 fans.

Carolina (20-28) rallied from 2-0 down to take the lead in the bottom of the seventh on a single by Kevin Randel. Lee Mitchell hit a two-run homer against starter Lance Broadway in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game.

Scott Tyler (L, 1-2) absorbed the loss allowing five runs on five hits. Tyler's second half ERA was 1.46 entering his appearance Friday night.

Paul Mildren worked six innings, permitting six hits and two runs in a no-decision.

Jose Campusano, returning to the starting lineup after suffering a concussion in late July, went 3-5 scoring a run to pace a nine-hit attack.

Carolina has now dropped two games after winning seven straight.

Jose Garcia (4-5, 2.74) starts Saturday night against Edwardo Sierra (2-0, 5.18) on Saturday night at 7:15 PM ET at Five County.

INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE

Indianapolis 7-2, Durham 0-3

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) -- Darnell McDonald led off with a home run and finished with a game-ending sliding catch to help the Durham Bulls to a 3-2 win over the Indianapolis Indians on Saturday in the second game of an International League doubleheader.

The Indians capitalized on a fielding error for four unearned runs in the sixth inning on the way to a 7-0 win in the first game. With two outs and no runs by either team in the top of the inning, Durham's Luis Rivas mishandled a ground ball by Carlos Maldonado, allowing Rajai Davis to score and Mike Edwards followed with a three run blast to make the game 4-0.

The Indians added three runs over the next two innings and Ron Chiavacci (3-3) allowed just five singles and a walk while striking out six. He pitched the full nine innings in 101 pitches, facing just 31 batters.

Jim Magrane (1-2) took the loss for the Bulls, going 7.1 innings while allowing seven runs (three earned) on nine hits and two walks, and striking out three.

In the second game, McDonald kicked off the scoring with his 12th home run of the season and finished the night batting 2-4.

With Durham leading 3-2 in the ninth and the tying run of second base, his sliding catch ended the Indians' chances.

J.P. Howell (4-2) pitched 6.1 innings, allowing one run off six hits and a walk while striking out eight.

Marty McLeary (2-4) took the loss for the Indians, allowing three runs (two earned) off nine hits, while striking out six over five innings.

Friday's game

Durham 5, Indianapolis 4

DURHAM (AP) -- With the score tied, Delmon Young and Kevin Witt scored what proved to be the game-winning runs in the seventh inning the Durham Bulls defeated the Indianapolis Indians 5-4 in an International League game Friday.

Young, who got on base on a ground-rule double, scored on a bases-loaded single by Joel Guzman. Witt, the designated hitter, scored on Rodney Nye's sacrifice fly after getting on base on a walk.

Young led five Bulls with multi-hit games, going 3-5 with two runs scored.

Durham won despite a great individual effort by the Indians' Carlos Maldonado, who was 4-4 with three RBIs and one home run.

Jose Rodriguez (3-1) got the victory, allowing one run in two innings pitched. Edwin Jackson, who was assigned to Durham on Thursday, got his first save, getting the final five outs. Jesse Chavez (1-1) took the loss, allowing three runs off four hits and three walks in one and one-third innings pitched.