Slocum, K-Tribe bust Warthogs

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on May 31, 2004 1:55 PM

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KINSTON -- Brian Slocum set a season-high with seven strikeouts over six shutout innings, and the offense got him all the support he needed with three runs in the second as Kinston split a four-game series with Winston-Salem by winning the finale 6-1 before 630 fans Sunday afternoon at Grainger Stadium.

The Indians improved to 33-15 while dropping the Warthogs to 22-27.

After Slocum stranded three runners in scoring position over the first two innings, Kinston broke through against Winston's Sean Tracey with a three-spot in the bottom of the second.

Shaun Larkin led off the inning with a four-pitch walk, and the Indians had the lead for good two pitches later when Caleb Brock belted a two-run homer down the left field line for a 2-0 lead.

Consecutive walks to Jonathan van Every and J.J. Sherrill put runners on first and second, and Eider Torres followed two batters later with an RBI single to center to push the margin to 3-0. Kinston added a couple of insurance runs in the sixth on an RBI single by Anthony Lunetta and a ground out by Nathan Panther, and Torres capped the scoring with his third hit of the day, plating Lunetta in the eighth.

Slocum was outstanding in moving to 5-2, allowing just five hits and no walks in six innings. Tracey allowed five runs (three earned) and nine hits in six innings to take the loss and fall to 2-6. Torres led the way offensively going 3-4 with two RBI, while Sherrill finished 2-3 with a run scored.

The 10-day homestand continues for Kinston tonight with the first of a four-game series with the Potomac Cannons at 7 p.m. The teams will play a doubleheader at 6 p.m. Tuesday before finishing the series Wednesday at 7 p.m. Kinston will also induct former general manager North Johnson into the new Indians Wall of Fame between games Tuesday.

For more information, please call the Indians office at (252) 527-9111.