CarL1 Salem RidgeYaks

Kinston Walks Off to 5-4 Win

Published on May 20, 2010 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem RidgeYaks News Release


Kinston, NC (May 20, 2010) - Richard Martinez drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to sneak the Indians past the Red Sox 5-4 on Thursday evening at Grainger Stadium. Jordan Henry, who singled to begin the ninth, freely strolled across the plate when Kyle Fernandes' errant 3-0 pitch sailed inside, giving Kinston a four-game sweep over Salem. The Red Sox, who opened their week-long road trip with three straight wins over Myrtle Beach, finished the swing 3-4, having dropped all four contests in North Carolina.

Salem could not capitalize on a superb effort on the mound from starter Alex Wilson, who allowed just one unearned run over five innings of work. Wilson yielded just three hits, but received a no-decision since Salem's bullpen could not hang on.

Salem led 2-1 into the sixth inning when Kinston struck for three runs. Kyle Bellows crushed a two-run homer off Michael Lee to transform a one run deficit into a 3-2 lead for the Indians. Lee allowed another unearned run in the sixth, and Kinston held a 4-2 edge into the eighth.

But in the top of the eighth, following a leadoff single from Oscar Tejeda, Ryan Lavarnway crushed his eighth homer of the season, a two-run blast beyond the left-center field wall that tied the score at four. The dinger was Lavarnway's second of the series and gave the Red Sox new life.

In the last of the ninth, though, Kinston delivered the knockout punch. Fernandes yielded back-to-back singles to Jordan Henry and Karexon Sanchez to open the frame. After Jason Kipnis struck out, a successful double steal moved both runners into scoring position. Salem intentionally walked Doug Pickens to load the bases, and with one out, retired Kyle Bellows on a lazy infield flare to second base. One more out for sending the game to extra innings, Fernandes could not find the strike zone against Martinez, who took a four-pitch walk to finish the game and the series.

The win is the 11th in the last 13th game for the K-Tribe, who improved to 21-20, over .500 for the first time since they were 3-2. The Sox, meanwhile, drop to 25-16, three games behind the Winston-Salem Dash in the Carolina League South.

Salem returns home to open a six-game homestand on Friday night back at Lewis-Gale Field against the Potomac Nationals. Stolmy Pimentel makes his first start since throwing six perfect innings last Saturday night in Myrtle Beach. He'll be opposed by Marcos Frias for the Nationals. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05.

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Carolina League Stories from May 20, 2010


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