Kinston Pulls To Within Three Games of First Place With a 4-3 Comeback Victory Over Myrtle Beach
June 10, 2011 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Kinston Indians News Release
Kinston scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to come back and beat Myrtle Beach 4-3 Friday night at Historic Grainger Stadium. With the win, the K-Tribe (31-28) is just three games behind the first place Pelicans in the Southern Division with ten games to play. It was the 17th win in the last 23 tries for Kinston. Kinston has now won ten straight games decided by one run.
Marty Popham was very good, making a spot start on the mound for Kinston. Popham gave up just four hits and one run in six strong innings of work. Popham did not walk a batter and struck out five. Myrtle Beach got to Popham just once, when Santiago Chirino hit a solo home run in the top of the third inning.
Leading 1-0 going into the top of the seventh, Myrtle Beach would expand their lead. With Kinston reliever Tyler Sturdevant in the game, the Pelicans used back-to-back doubles from Jared Hoying and Chirino to take a 2-0 advantage. After a Kinston error, Chirino would score on an infield single by Larry Garcia that hit off of Sturdevant's leg.
Carolina League All-Star and wins leader Robbie Ross lived up to the hype early, no-hitting Kinston into the sixth inning. The K-Tribe would finally get to the All-Star in the top of the seventh when Abner Abreu led off with a double. Chase Burnette grounded out to advance Abreu to third base. Doug Pickens then completed the run manufacturing with an RBI ground out of his own.
Down 3-1 going into the bottom of the eighth inning, Kinston started the comeback with three straight hits off of Ross. Tyler Holt began the bottom of the eighth with a single. Casey Frawley followed with a double that drove home Holt. Bo Greenwell then banged a single that sent Frawley to third base. After Ross struck out Jeremie Tice, the Pelicans went to the bullpen and inserted Ryan Kelly. Facing Kelly, Adam Abraham popped a ball into foul territory on the third base side. Chirino and the Pelicans left-fielder Hoying closed on the ball and nearly collided as Hoying made the catch in foul territory. The disruption was enough for Frawley to tag and score from third to tie the game at three. On the play, Greenwell advanced to second when catcher Zach Zaneski fumbled the throw home and was charged with an error. Abreu would then send a seeing eye single over the second base bag to drive Greenwell home and give Kinston a 4-3 lead. Greenwell and Abreu each had two hits for Kinston.
All-Star Preston Guilmet finished things off in the top of the ninth for his fourteenth save in as many chances. Sturdevant (4-2) got the win in relief for Kinston. Ross (7-2) was saddled with the loss.
The home series continues with a Fireworks Saturday night at 6:30 pm at Historic Grainger Stadium. Cleveland's 2010 first round draft pick and Carolina League All-Star Drew Pomeranz will take the hill for Kinston. The K-Tribe stays in town through Wednesday, go to www.kinstonindians.com for more information.
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Carolina League Stories from June 10, 2011
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- Rocks Strike Early, Win 4-1 - Winston-Salem Dash
- Lefty Strikes Out Nine over Seven Scoreless - Frederick Keys
- Three runs in eighth, Kelly's first blown save doom Myrtle Beach - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Kinston Pulls To Within Three Games of First Place With a 4-3 Comeback Victory Over Myrtle Beach - Kinston Indians
- Haughian Deals 'Cats a Loss - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes - Lynchburg Hillcats
- K-Tribe Notes for Friday - Kinston Indians
- Pelicans Game Notes - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes - Winston-Salem Dash
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