Indians Game Notes for July 26
Published on July 26, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Kinston Indians News Release
KINSTON INDIANS (11-18) vs. WILMINGTON BLUE ROCKS (14-14)
Today's Starters
KIN RHP Alexander Perez (1-1, 1.42) Alexander Perez turned 20 on Friday and hopes to continue the numbers he put up for the K-Tribe at age 19. Perez has allowed just three earned runs and struck out 15 in 19 inn. The 6'2" 156 pound Dominican native started 15 games for Low A Lake County this season, going 5-4 with a 3.04 ERA. He allowed just 28 earned runs in 83 innings, striking out 76 while walking 24.
WIL LHP Mike Montgomery (2-3, 2.17) 20-year-old Mike Montgomery is making his Wilmington debut today after allowing just 14 earned runs in 12 starts for Low A Burlington. Montgomery was taken in the first round (36th) in the 2008 draft out of Hart High School in Newhall, California. He went 2-1 with a 1.69 ERA in 12 games (nine starts) for the AZL Royals last season.
Christmas In July-The K-Tribe couldn't get a victory under its tree last night as K-Tribe starter Eric Berger struck out a career high 11 batters in just six innings, but the Blue Rocks got going late, beating Kinston 4-3 Saturday night at Grainger Stadium. The Blue Rocks got to Kinston's bullpen, scoring four, two-out runs in the top of the seventh inning. With K-Tribe reliever Jonathan Holt on the mound, Paolo Orlando started the two-out rally with a single. After a Ryan Eigsti infield single, Anthony Seratelli drove in the first run of the game with an RBI single. Johnny Giavotella followed with another RBI single and Mike Moustakas kept it going with a two RBI double. The K-Tribe would mount a rally immediately, scoring three runs of their own in the bottom of the frame. With two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, Cord Phelps hit an RBI single scoring Ronald Rivas. Lonnie Chisenhall (1-for-5) then hit a bases-loaded double, driving in Richard Martinez and Lucas Montero, to cut the Blue Rock lead to one. That would end the scoring, however, as Kinston would not get a hit the rest of the way. Putting The K In K-Tribe-Berger's eleven strikeouts were the most by a K-Tribe pitcher this season. The pervious high was Kelvin De La Cruz's 10 on opening day vs. Winston-Salem. Berger was masterful from the mound, giving up just three hits and walking two in six innings. Berger (7-7) struck out two batters in each of his first five innings of work. The lefty's ERA is now 2.29, the second lowest mark in the Carolina League. What makes Berger's feat even more impressive, Wilmington has been the hardest team to strike out in the CL all season, having struck out just 618 times, 24 less than the next lowest mark (Winston-Salem-642). One Is The Loneliest Number-The K-Tribe's one-run woes continued last night as the Indians lost 4-3 and are now a league worst 10-24 in one-run contests. Wilmington is now 17-16 in games decided by the slimmest of margins. Kinston is also a league worst 5-9 in two-run games and just 2-6 in extra innings. Starters Hot As Coal-Even though the K-Tribe is just 4-8 in its last 12 games, you can't fault the team's starting pitching. In those 12 games, Kinston starters have allowed just 15 earned runs in 73.2 innings (1.84 ERA). Over those games, the Indians have allowed 15 unearned runs and the bullpen has allowed 32 runs (26 earned) in 27.1 innings for an ERA of 8.63. Four of Kinston's five starters though have a July ERA of under 3.00. As a staff, the Indians starting rotation (Eric Berger, Russell Young, Alexander Perez, Paolo Espino, Mike McGuire and Ryan Morris) has a 2.36 ERA in July (33 ER/ 126 IP).
Singing The Blues-The Indians are now 6-10 against the Blue Rocks this season, and 3-6 at home. Kinston did win three-of-four games against Wilmington on July 4th weekend, and have taken four of the last six match-ups. The K-Tribe is hitting just .234 against the Blue Crew, but they have a 3.21 ERA; Wilmington is hitting just .236 as well against the Tribe, but has an eyelash thin 2.20 ERA against K-Tribe hitters.
Home Sweet Home?-The Indians will have to wait till August to try for its first back-to-back home victories since May 8-9th vs. Myrtle Beach. The K-Tribe is 8-24 over that span at Historic Grainger Stadium. The K-Tribe is hitting just .247 as a team with a 4.07 ERA. Tim Fedroff has the best home batting average among active players with more than 20 games played at home this season, with a.262 BA. Catcher Doug Pickens and first baseman Ole Sheldon have loved their short time in Kinston, however, as Pickens is hitting .375 in seven home contests, while Sheldon is hitting .316 in 18 home games.
Carolina League Stories from July 26, 2009
- Lynchburg Routs Frederick In Series Finale - Hill City Howlers
- Dash Stifle Pelicans In Series Finale - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Lynchburg Collects 20 Hits, Beat Keys 11-4 - Frederick Keys
- Salem Receives 10 Walks But Squanders Numerous Chances in Defeat - Salem RidgeYaks
- Nats Use Ninth to Blast Past Sox - Potomac Nationals
- Dash Edge Pelicans, Take Series Finale - Winston-Salem Dash
- Pelicans Unable to Overcome Defecit - Winston-Salem Dash
- Moustakas Leads Blue Rocks Past Kinston - Kinston Indians
- Nationals Prepare for 6:05 Tilt Versus Salem - Potomac Nationals
- Hillcats Prepare For Frederick Sunday Evening - Hill City Howlers
- Red Sox Game Notes for July 26 - Salem RidgeYaks
- Indians Game Notes for July 26 - Kinston Indians
- Lynchburg And Frederick Split Double Dip - Hill City Howlers
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