Hillcats Edge Indians 5-3
Published on June 26, 2010 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Kinston Indians News Release
A fourth inning grand slam was the difference, as Kinston fell to Lynchburg 5-3 Saturday night at Historic Grainger Stadium.
The offense showed up early for the K-Tribe, as Abner Abreu blasted a solo homer to left center field in the first inning for his second homer of the season. Lynchburg responded in the top of the second, as Neftali Soto led off with a base hit that caromed off of K-Tribe starting pitcher Joe Gardner and into right field. After Gardner's wild pitch moved Soto to second, Kevin Coddington flared a single to right to score Soto and tie the game at one.
Kinston used a two-out rally to take the lead back in the bottom of the second inning. Richard Martinez started the threat with a line drive single to center against Hillcats starter Mark Serrano. Ronald Rivas then clubbed an RBI double to the wall in center to score Martinez. Justin Toole knocked a single down the left field line for his first RBI with the K-Tribe and a 3-1 lead.
Kinston had a bases loaded, no-out opportunity in the bottom of the third inning, but failed to score on a Karexon Sanchez strikeout and a great double play turned by Lynchburg third baseman Shane Carlson. Carlson snagged a ripped line drive off of the bat of Chris Kersten, doubling Abner Abreu off second and ending the threat. The Hillcats turned the tables on Gardner in the top of the fourth inning with a bases loaded surprise of their own. Felix Perez led off with a single to left, Soto was hit by a pitch and Coddington walked. The next batter, Kyle Day hammered a grand slam to right center field to give Lynchburg a 5-3 lead. It was the Hillcats first grand slam of the season and also the first slam allowed by K-Tribe pitching in 2010. Gardner (6-2) took the loss, leaving the game after six innings. Gardner allowed a season-high five runs on four hits, walking one and striking out six. Serrano (3-5) took the win, giving up three runs on eight hits in five innings, walking none and striking out six.
Kinston fought back late, getting runners on in the final three innings. With one on and two outs in the bottom of the eighth, a diving catch made by Lynchburg outfielder Efrain Contreras robbed Ronald Rivas of an RBI hit and a possibly a Kinston rally. The K-Tribe stayed close thanks to reliever Chris Jones, who gave up just two hits and no runs in three innings of work. Jones struck out two and did not walk a batter. Jones has an ERA of 0.91 through 13 appearances this season.
The K-Tribe welcomes Potomac to Historic Grainger Stadium Sunday with a special 5pm start. Marty Popham will take the hill for Kinston.
Carolina League Stories from June 26, 2010
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- Day Slams Cats to Series Victory in Kinston - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Peacock Triple Topples Pelicans in the Eighth - Potomac Nationals
- Rocks Rout Salem, 13-5 - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Big Innings Lead Keys Past Dash - Frederick Keys
- Keys Blow out Dash Again - Winston-Salem Dash
- Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes - 6/26 - Lynchburg Hillcats
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- Saturday Notes for Kinston - Kinston Indians
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