K-Tribe pounds Hillcats

Published in Sports on June 22, 2007 1:47 PM

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LYNCHBURG, Va. -- Stephen Head clubbed a first-inning home run and Kinston coasted to a 15-3 victory over Lynchburg in the Carolina League Southern Division second-half opener for both teams.

Head's 12th homer gave him his third round-tripper in his last four outings. He finished Thursday's contest with two hits in five plate appearances.

The playoff-bound K-Tribe connected on 14 hits and improved to 15-3 during the month of June. Chris De La Cruz provided three hits and scored four runs in six at-bats, while Wes Hodges extended his hitting streak to 18 games with a 3-for-5 efforts.

John Drennen's third-inning RBI single helped Kinston maintain a one-run advantage through four innings. In the K-Tribe fifth, the first six batters reached base safely and sent Hillcats pitcher Clayton Hamilton (2-5) to the showers.

Drennen and Hodges each supplied RBI hits.

Jose Costanza contributed three hits and scored three runs.

Kinston right-hander Kevin Dixon (4-3) prevailed for the third time in his four mound appearances. He surrendered seven hits and three earned runs in a seven-inning stint. Erik Stiller and Scott Roehl mopped up in the eighth and ninth innings.

The teams continue their three-game series today. Sung-Wei Tseng is scheduled to pitch for Kinston. Game time is 7:05 p.m.