Nationals salvage split with K-Tribe

Published in Sports on July 20, 2007 1:47 PM

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KINSTON -- Justin Jones threw a four-hitter during a five-inning stint and Potomac doubled up Kinston 6-3 to salvage a split in their four-game series Thursday evening.

Jones collected his fifth victory in 10 decisions and the K-Tribe fell to 14-10 during second-half play.

The Nationals cruised to a 4-0 lead and denied Kinston starter Ryan Edell his 10th win of the season. Edell (9-4) yielded four earned runs, all on two-out rallies, and eight hits overall in five-plus innings.

Newcomer Neil Wagner replaced Edell and surrendered single runs in the seventh and eighth innings. Relievers Erik Stiller and Matt Meyer threw scoreless innings behind Wagner, but the damage had been done.

Kinston pulled within 4-2 in the fifth. Mike Butia doubled, reached third on a wild pitch and trotted home on Jerad Head's groundout. Potomac's outfield misplayed Brian Finegan's fly ball, which allowed Jose Costanza -- who singled with two outs -- to score.

Potomac moved in front 6-2 on Greg Thissen's solo home run and Brian Peacock's RBI groundout in the eighth. Max Ramirez provided an RBI hit in the K-Tribe eighth to conclude the scoring.

The K-Tribe begins a three-game, weekend series against Frederick today. Kevin Dixon (8-3, 3.78 ERA) is slated to take the mound for Kinston.

Game time is 7 p.m. at historic Grainger Stadium.