K-Tribe comes up short to Wilmington

Published in Sports on July 6, 2007 1:48 PM

• Print
• Email

KINSTON -- With the tying run 90 feet from home, Kinston couldn't produce the timely hit in a 4-3 loss to Wilmington at historic Grainger Stadium on Thursday evening.

Jose Costanza started the K-Tribe ninth with a double and advanced to third on Jerad Head's groundout. After a strikeout, Wes Hodges flied out to end the rally and send Kinston (8-5) to its second straight home loss against the Northern Division-leading Blue Rocks.

Costanza, Mike Butia and Josh Rodriguez ignited a fourth-inning explosion with consecutive hits. Wilmington (11-4) answered with Cody Clark's two-out, three-run homer to make it 4-3. The multiple-run shot chased Kinston starter Frank Herrmann, who allowed four earned runs on three walks and six hits.

Jim Deters tossed four-plus innings of one-hit relief and retired the final 10 batters he faced.

Wilmington's Tyler Chambliss remained unbeaten in two outings, while Patrick Green mopped up for his third save. Green yielded three hits in a four-inning stint for the Blue Rocks, who grabbed a four-game lead over Lynchburg.

Kinston begins a weekend series today against Winston-Salem. Game time is 7 p.m.