Kinston crushes Hillcats

Published in Sports on August 14, 2006 2:15 PM

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LYNCHBURG, Va. -- Kinston banged out 14 hits Sunday night as the K-Tribe crushed the Hillcats 11-5.

Kinston cruised to victory after a six-run second inning, highlighted by a bases-loaded triple from Jose Constanza. The big sluggers got it going later in the game as Jordan Brown and Stephen Head each hit their 13th home run of the season. Constanza even got into the big bomb act, hitting his first home run of the year in the third inning. Constanza went 3-for-5 with five RBIs.

Brown was 3-for-5 with three RBIs.

The K-Tribe's Mariano Gomez (2-3) pitch five strong innings for the win. The Kinston win, combined with a Salem loss, put the K-Tribe just two games behind first place Salem in the Carolina League Southern Division's second half. The Indians are assured a playoff spot with their Southern Division title in the first half in the season, but a sweep of both halves would give Kinston all three first-round playoff games at home.

Salem comes to Kinston for a four-game series starting tonight at Grainger Stadium. Kinston will put 20-year-old lefthander Chuck Lofgren (15-5, 2.35) on the mound for the 7 p.m. start today.

INTERNTIONAL LEAGUE

Louisville 8, Durham 5

DURHAM -- Ryan Jorgensen hit a three-run homer that keyed a four-run seventh inning that gave the Louisville Bats a 7-5 come-from-behind win over the Durham Bulls in International League play on Sunday.

With Durham ahead 5-2, Jorgensen hit his seventh home run of the season to left center field, scoring Jesse Gutierrez and Matt Kata and tying the game. Norris Hopper scored on a two-out RBI single by Brendan Harris to give the Bats a 6-5 lead.

Harris drove in two more runs in the ninth to seal the win.

Brent Butler drew three walks for the Bulls, and Shawn Riggans finished 3-5 with one RBI. Darnell McDonald stole two bases, giving him 26 on the season.