Warthogs Steal Nightcap, Salvage Split With Kinston
July 7, 2008 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
WINSTON-SALEM, NC - After getting hammered 14-3 by Kinston in the opener of a doubleheader, Winston-Salem stole a 3-2 win in the nightcap to salvage a split on Monday night at Ernie Shore Field. The Warthogs plated three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to overcome a 2-0 deficit in game two to maintain sole possession of first place in the Southern Division.
In the nightcap, Kinston broke a scoreless game by scraping across a run in the fifth inning against Clevelan Santeliz. Niuman Romero led off the inning with a single and Jason Denham followed with an infield hit. A wild pitch moved the runners to second and third with no outs. After Santeliz struck out Cristo Arnal, Brian Juhl was retired on slow roller to second, which allowed Romero to score giving the K-Tribe a 1-0 lead.
The Indians took advantage of another wild pitch in the sixth inning as Beau Mills scored from third on a Henry Mabee curve ball in the dirt to put Kinston in front 2-0.
Josh Fields led off the sixth inning with a double off Shawn Nottingham. Brandon Allen was hit by a pitch and John Shelby III reached on a sacrifice bunt to load the bases with no outs. C.J. Retherford lifted a sac fly to score Fields and cut the Warthogs deficit in half. Pinch-hitter Salvador Sanchez greeted reliever Mike Finocchi with a single up the middle to tie the game at two. Next, Greg Paiml laid down a bunt as Shelby III charged home from third to give Winston-Salem a 3-2 lead.
Kanekoa Texiera recorded the final three outs to notch his Carolina League best 20th save of the season. Mabee (1-1) worked a perfect inning of relief with two strikeouts to garner his first win for Winston-Salem, who improved to 15-3 in one-run games at Ernie Shore Field this season. After blanking the Warthogs thru five innings, Nottingham was charged with all three run and suffered the loss.
In the opener, Kinston jumped on Warthogs starting pitcher John Ely with three runs in the first inning with Carlos Rivero and Niuman Romero contributing run-scoring ground outs. The Indians added four more runs in the second inning highlighted by a three-run home run off the bat of Beau Mills that handed Kinston a 7-0 lead.
Winston-Salem tried mounting an early rally as they plated three runs in the third inning with Josh Fields and Brandon Allen picking up RBI. The Warthogs momentum did not last long as Jared Goedart and Carlos Rivero lined two-out RBI singles in the fourth inning to extend the Indians lead to 9-3.
Mills, who finished 4-for-5 with 5 RBI, lined a two-run double in the fifth inning to give Kinston an 11-3 lead. The Indians powered their way to a 14-3 advantage when Nuiman Romero and Jared Head hit back-to-back blasts off Steven Spurgeon in the sixth inning.
Jeanmar Gomez (3-7) worked five innings for Kinston and limited the Warthogs to three runs (two earned) on five hits to collect the victory. It was his first win since May 16, which came against the Warthogs at Ernie Shore Field. Ely only lasted 1 1/3 innings, which is the shortest outing for a Warthogs starting pitcher. He allowed seven runs (five earned) on five hits with three walks to suffer the loss.
The Warthogs will enjoy an off day on Tuesday before traveling to Frederick for the first of three against the Keys at Harry Grove Stadium. The series opener is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Wednesday night.
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Carolina League Stories from July 7, 2008
- Warthogs Steal Nightcap, Salvage Split With Kinston - Winston-Salem Dash
- P-Nats take game one in split - Potomac Nationals
- Avs win series with split - Salem Red Sox
- K-Tribe splits twin bill - Kinston Indians
- Keys come up in empty clutch - Frederick Keys
- Rocks fall in Myrtle Beach - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Vines ushers in Pelicans victory - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Four Hillcats Named Top Carolina League Prospects - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Kinston's Hector Rondon is the Carolina League Pitcher of the Week - Kinston Indians
- Pelicans Game Notes - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Hillcats Game Notes - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Collin Raye And Crystal Gayle Concert Cancelled - Frederick Keys
- Potomac Nationals Game Notes - Potomac Nationals
- Lowrance Carolina League Player of the Week - CarL1
- Pelicans Playoff Tickets On Sale Now - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Pelicans Tenth Anniversary Team To Be Unveiled Friday - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
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