K-Tribe blown out by Salem

Published in Sports on September 6, 2007 1:47 PM

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KINSTON -- Defending Mills Cup champion Kinston faces elimination in the Southern Division playoff series after a 10-3 loss to Salem on Wednesday evening.

The Avalanche pounded out 15 hits and can clinch the best-of-three series with a win tonight at historic Grainger Stadium.

Mitch Einertson's RBI groundout and Chris Johnson's two-out, RBI single staked Salem to a 2-0 lead after one inning. Orlando Rosales and Einertson cranked out RBI hits in the third and fourth innings, respectively, to make it 5-0.

Kinston pulled within 5-3 on Whitney's solo home run, his 33rd of the season, and a two-run error. Salem answered with Tim Torres' solo homer and a sixth-inning, unearned run.

K-Tribe hurler Jim Deters took the loss after permitting five earned runs on eight hits in four innings. He walked three and struck out five.

Avalanche reliever Chris Blazek retired the final six Kinston batters he faced to get the save. Starter Sergio Perez allowed six hits and one earned run in six innings.

Game two is 7 p.m. tonight.